Kavita* dreads going to bed at night. She fears what her husband will do to her. Kavita is 14. She should be in school. Instead she was forced into marriage as a child because of the practice of child marriage is still rampant in her society despite being illegal in India for so many years. 

This horror is not just one person’s story but it is the daily reality of hundreds of girls from all the communities of Seemanchal region of Bihar.

As per the latest NFHS-5 Report, 63% of girls with no education were married below 18 years of age as compared to only 12% among those attaining higher education in Bihar It is traumatising. Its adverse effects are also visible in society. Due to this practice, Bihar reports a high number of mother and infant deaths, and a rising number of orphans. I believe it is high time efforts are made to implement the law and save young girls like Kavita.

The District Child Protection Unit of Kishanganj, Katihar and Purnia district of Seemanchal region has taken several commendable steps in the context of child marriage prohibition as per the orders of the government and the provisions of the law, but still there are gaps that need to bridged. Through this petition I ask them to implement the following points effectively at the village level:

1. Apart from the Panchayati Raj system at the village level, government officials working on child protection should also be held accountable for all cases of child marriage.

2. Organized structure at subdivision and block level, in which Sub-Division Magistrate has been given the charge of Child Marriage Prohibition Officer (CMPO) and Block Development Officer has been given charge of ACMPO, therefore monthly meetings of this structure should be made mandatory.

2. By involving the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) in this meeting, information should be taken in the meeting on the status of every month and the action taken should be assessed.

3. Awareness programs related to child marriage should be conducted at least once every month in middle and high government and non-government schools at the village level.

4. Laws related to child marriage, trafficking and child labor should be included in the curriculum of middle and high classes.

 5. Making the helpline number 181 of the Women and Child Development Corporation smoothly accessible to all will also be helpful in making this campaign a success.

I am running this campaign to eliminate child marriage from the root. Through this campaign, I am asking the Kishanganj District Magistrate Mr. Shrikant Shastri and  Kishanganj District Superintendent of Police to act on my demands and pledge to end child marriage in Bihar. 

Please sign my petition and I hope you will contribute in ending this stigmatising practice of Bihar.

Please share this campaign with your friends and family.

Thank you.

*Name changed to protect identity