After successfully taking on her parents who tried to marry her off to a 36-year-old man, 16-year-old first-year Intermediate student returned to her college at Palamaner on Friday after a gap of one month.
Born into an agricultural family at Bommanapalle village of Gangavaram mandal, the girl’s parents, both farm workers, had been trying to perform their elder daughter’s marriage with her maternal uncle for the last one year. One month ago, the man allegedly threatened the girl with dire consequences if she failed to accept the proposal.
On November 15, the girl had approached Deputy SP (Palamaner) K. Chowdeswari and poured out her woes. It was found that a couple of months ago, the girl had even tried to take shelter at the Gangavaram police station unable to bear the harassment.
Responding to the girl’s appeal, the DSP spoke to the Rural Organisation for Poverty Eradication Services (ROPES) Childline 1098. After a 15-day surveillance, the rescue team finally stopped her marriage on November 30 at the village.
After taking an undertaking from the girl’s parents that they would desist from performing the child marriage, the maternal uncle was warned against harassing the girl.
Addiction to alcohol
In another incident, a rescue party of the Childline 1098 and the Women’s Association for Liberation, Transformation and Community Health (WATCH) stopped the marriage of a 13-year-old girl, who is studying in Class 8, with a 36-year-old farm worker at Degala Banda Colony of Bodabandla village in Bangarupalem mandal on Thursday night.
The girl’s mother, who is addicted to alcohol, had reportedly taken cash from a distant relative, promising to perform her daughter’s marriage with him.
Poverty
In the third incident, the rescue team stopped the marriage of a 15-year-old girl of B.L. Kandriga village of Bangarupalem mandal with a 30-year-old man of Ambur in Tamil Nadu on Thursday night.
Poverty forced the orphaned girl to discontinue her Inter first year course and bow to the pressure of her relatives to get married. Seeing the arrangements at the girl’s house, some neighbours informed the matter to the Childline 1098 following she was rescued.
