From End to Beginning: When a Village became a Voice Against Child Marriage

There is no denying the fact that child marriage is a social crime, one that is deeply engraved in society. A crime that remains prevalent due to its social acceptance can only be combated when society decides to stand against it and uphold the laws that make child marriage a punishable offense. For instance, in a village in Gautam Buddha Nagar, neighboring the National Capital, New Delhi, when a 15-year-old child was about to be married to a 25-year-old man, and her parents were unwilling to reconsider, the entire village, including Anganwadi workers, the Village Pradhan, and neighbours, came together to stop the marriage.

Towards the End

Tanya (name changed) has never been to school. Since she has never been around anyone who studies or aspires to be successful, she does not dream of an education or a career either. What she does dream of, however, is a life of basic comfort—less work, more playtime, less hunger, and more food on the plate. Her two elder sisters were married off when they were not more than 14 years old. So when she turned 15, she knew the fate that awaited her.

When her parents, who are daily wage earners, found her a ‘match,’ she did not think that refusing to marry was an option. The marriage was arranged, invitations were distributed, and the countdown began.

While many people were uncomfortable with the marriage, they remained silent—except for one person, who decided to call the NGO Social and Development Research Action Group (SADRAG), an organization dedicated to child protection and rights in the region which often visited schools in the district for awareness programmes.

SADRAG is a member of Just Rights for Children (JRC), a network of over 250 NGOs working across 416 districts in India, including 40 districts in Uttar Pradesh. The network has successfully prevented 250,000 child marriages nationwide through legal interventions and awareness campaigns, and all its partners have been using these strategies to end this crime by 2030. JRC has also played a pivotal role in securing landmark judgments to eradicate child marriage in the country.

“When we received an anonymous call raising alarm about Tanya’s marriage, we immediately sprang into action. I, along with field worker Muskan, went to her house to talk sense into her parents. Her father was not home. When we spoke to her mother, she refused to reconsider and insisted that with the invitations distributed and only 10 days left, the wedding could not be canceled,” narrated Riyaj Mohd from SADRAG.

They then contacted the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the District Child Protection Officer and apprised them of the situation.

The Village Steps In

When officials visited Tanya’s family, they were nowhere to be found.

“So, we met the neighbors, Anganwadi workers, and the village head and explained that this was a criminal offense as well as a grave injustice to the child. They listened carefully and promised to try to persuade the parents,” Riyaj said, adding that despite their assurances, the team was uncertain whether the villagers would intervene.

But they did.

When Tanya’s parents returned, the villagers gathered together and informed them of the consequences of child marriage. Frightened, the parents called SADRAG and requested that no action be taken against them.

“We asked them to meet us at the CWC office the next day. They arrived with their daughter and a few villagers,” said Riyaj Mohd.

When Tanya was asked if she wanted to marry, she initially said she had no problem with it. For Tanya, marriage seemed like a way to ease the burden on her parents and three younger siblings and, hopefully, secure a better life for herself.

However, after being counseled, she understood that marriage was not the route to happiness for a child her age. Her parents signed an undertaking, promising that they would not marry their daughter before the legal age.

The Beginning

Tanya is now eagerly waiting for March when the academic session begins. Her parents have promised the NGO and Tanya that they will enroll her in school.

While stories often begin with a fresh start, Tanya’s life story started with the threat of an end—of hope, of childhood, and of her future. But today, she is on the path to a new beginning and a brighter future.