Marriages are made in heaven. But the evil of child marriage has evolved on planet earth. The practise that originated in the medieval age has slipped quietly into the modern era to scar childhood. The state capital is no exception either in this aspect where the practise is spoiling the life of thousands of minors belonging to either of the genders. 15-year-old Nagma Bano was married two years ago at a tender age of 13 years to a (then) 16-year-old boy. It is an age in which children are innocent enough to know about marriage and now even at 15 she is not mature enough to have a family.
But, “Betiyan paraya dhan hoti hain, jitni jaldi apne ghar chali jaen utna achha”, seems to be the trend in the Dadabari Kachhi Basti area of Sanganer, where one can witness number of such families who have minor girls as their daughter-in-laws.
“I was married off at the age of 13. I obeyed my Abba’s (father) order. It’s been two years now,” says Nagma Bano. “I wanted to study; I liked to read and write. When I used to see children of my age dressed in uniform, I wished that I could also go there & learn more about the world, but now I can’t even think of doing it as I have responsibilities on my shoulders to take care of my family members,” Bano adds hesitatingly when questioned about her desire. She is not alone to be facing the heat of untimely marriage. Her neighbour and friend, a 17-year-old girl named Shabnam Bano was also married off when she was just 13 years old. The two share the burdens of hard-fought daily life with each other. Today they find their freedom in each other.
Shabnam is shy and when asked about her troubles about marrying early, she smiles and looks at her friend then fixes her gaze on a piece of cloth which she is holding in her hands and engraving an embroidered flower. These are just the two examples in this area and there are many more such girls who speak volumes of administration’s failure to curb child marriage and how people are not abiding by the law.
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