President meets girls who resisted child marriage

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil today met three young girls from West Bengal's Purulia district who had shown rare courage by resisting early marriage despite tremendous parental and societal pressure.

Mrs Patil praised the girls---Rekha Kalindi, Sunita Mahato and Afsana Khatun when they met her at Rashtrapati Bhavan, an official press release said.

The three girls were until two years ago before they became part of the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) and were admitted to special schools.

Rekha Kalindi, 11, used to roll beedis with her parents. Due to low family income, Rekha’s parents wanted to marry her off but she resisted saying she wanted to continue her education and would not marry till she got a job. With the assistance of her school friends and teachers, Rekha convinced her parents about the ill effects of this social practice.

Similarly, Afsana Khatun, 13, was a child labourer but today she is an active participant of the Child Activist Initiative of NCLP.

Sunita Mahato, also 13, used to roll beedis and work on the farm. She is also now a child activist in the NCLP, the release said.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said she was very happy that the girls had shown courage to resist child marriage. She was also happy that their parents were convinced and accepted the advice of teachers and friends.

Mrs Patil also praised the work being done by NCLP. The President said the girls' courageous stand had had a positive effect on their communities and was leading to more girls resisting child marriage. The President felt that social evils could only be brought to an end through more awareness.

"It is not only necessary to send girls to school but it is also necessary to give them social education to make them aware of the social evils which they must resist," she said.

Calling for a major national awareness campaign, the President said the three girls were messengers of social change.

A child marriage, according to the President, destroys at least 10 other lives, as the young child soon becomes a mother, and then becomes victim of failing health due to numerous childbirths, which ultimately affects the health of her children. This then goes to continue the cycle of poverty from which a family can never recover.

The President gave Rekha, Afsana and Sunita Rs.10, 000/- each as an appreciation of their courage and determination and also for use in their further education. Mrs Patil said India cannot progress until there is inclusive growth with every section given an opportunity for advancement and growth.

The girls and their parents were given a guided tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan and later had lunch there, the release added.

NNN