Bardibas youth turn sari a canvas of messages against child marriage

By Ajaya Shah,Mahaottari, Aug. 29: In Bardibas, activists have turned a sari into a powerful canvas of messages against child marriage as part of a public awareness campaign.

Under a campaign called 'Shift', young activists organised the initiative during a Teej festival, where participants and community members wrote their messages on a sari to express solidarity against child marriage.

The programme was conducted on Tuesday by Youth for Change, a group of young activists based in Bardibas, with support from Save the Children. 

The campaign emphasised the urgent need to take immediate action to end child marriage in Madhes Province. 

The Shift campaign helps young people design and implement public campaigns for social and environmental change.

Speaking at the launch, Madhes Province Assembly member and Coordinator of the Parliamentary Forum on Child Rights, Sharada Thapa, said, “Child marriage has severe consequences not only on children’s health and education but also on their relationships.’

“It is not just a social issue but also a legal offence. Everyone must participate in the campaign against child marriage,” she added. 

She hailed the youth for taking the initiative and pledged continued support from the Madhes provincial government for efforts to end child marriage.

Sharing her perspective, Youth for Change activist Pratima said, “The messages on this sari reflect our stories, struggles, and demands. It voices what many in our community cannot say openly: child marriage is not tradition, it is injustice.”

“Through these words on cloth, we want to say that girls have dreams that must be protected. We will not stop until every child has the freedom to safeguard their future.”

The event saw the participation of Bardibas Municipality Mayor Prahlad Kumar Chhetri, Deputy Mayor Tara Devi, Bardibas Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Bishnu Bahadur Khadka, child rights activists, civil society representatives, and members of the local community. All participants expressed solidarity with the fight against child marriage.

According to the 2021 National Census, 74,272 children aged between 10 and 17 years in Nepal were already married, of which 16,347 cases were recorded in Madhes Province alone, more than one-fifth of the national figure. The situation remains alarming.

Statistics show that 42.4 per cent of women in Madhes marry before the age of 18, compared to the national average of 33 per cent. 

In Mahottari district, the rate is even higher at 43.3 per cent. Data further indicates that one in five adolescent girls in Madhes becomes pregnant during her teenage years.