Safeguarding dreams of adolescent girls by preventing child marriage

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The Savitribai Phule Mahila Ekatma Samaj Mandal (SPMESM) through Kishori Vikas Prakalp (KVP-Adolescent Girls Development Programme) through counselling had safeguarded the dreams of 37 minor girls by preventing their child marriages through counselling of their parents, in the last one year.

The KVP run by the SPMESM has helped prevent many such lives from slipping into darkness. Earlier, Priya (name changed), a 15–16-year-old girl living in an underprivileged settlement in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, desperately pleaded with the project coordinator saying, “Sister, my family is arranging my marriage. I want to study… I don’t want to get married right now. Please do something…” Having just appeared for her Class 10 examinations, Priya was facing the looming threat of child marriage. However, with timely guidance, she is now carving out her own identity in the world of fashion design and modelling. Like Priya, hundreds of girls are breaking the tradition of child marriage and striving to stand on their own feet.

Efforts by the KVP and ‘MyNex Foundation’ to combat the grim reality of child marriage are proving to be a ray of hope in both urban and rural areas. Over the past year alone, the project has successfully prevented as many as 37 potential child marriages through counselling.

Given wings…

While still in Class 10, Priya’s family had begun preparations for her marriage. The situation was serious. As a regular participant in the project, Priya directly approached the project coordinators. Without any delay, the team sprang into action. They contacted her family and conducted repeated counselling sessions, urging them to allow Priya to continue her education and not jeopardise her future. They also explained that arranging a child marriage is a punishable offence under the law. Eventually, her family withdrew their decision. Today, Priya has completed her Diploma in Fashion Designing and has also acted in a short film. Preventing her early marriage has given her significant scope for personal growth.

Breaking tradition

Another inspiring example is Sneha (name changed). She has four sisters in total. Her three elder sisters were all married off at a very young age and had little access to education. However, since joining the ‘project’ group, Sneha underwent a positive transformation. She firmly resolved not to marry early but instead to complete her education and become independent. Notably, her parents supported her decision. She went on to complete her GNM (General Nursing and Midwifery) course and now works at a hospital, contributing to her family’s support.