Jagrik name-Priyanka Sarkar and Ratna Das

Cohort Number-02

Organization- Rural Volunteers Centre. Dhemaji, Assam.

Task-(FD6CG1):- Identity at least 3 girls/women in your community who married before the legal age. Analyse reasons for this. Attempt convincing the families to complete their school education at least.

The Jagrik peers took the task and visited three houses in their own village. They identified 3 girls who were married without completion of eighteen years. They interact with the parents and asked why it so happen so earlier. The answer was given as they can’t afford the family and so they hardly give lack of interest and motivate the girl child for higher studies and at the same time they  consider teenage is the only time period to engage them for marriage.

Experience:-Jagrik peers moving towards the community as household wise was  difficult and hesitation for them as they thought what the parents would say if we talked about a girl getting married before legal age. As they passed towards one family house and talked to one of the girl who got married before the legal age. As she said no support from the families for studies and so than her studies discontinue and remain for months and at last left school and got engage in marriage. As she think no other choice of career rather than to get married. As repeatedly found to be same answers from rest of the family.

Learned:-The community people still lack the awareness regarding on the child marriage and the legal age of a girl said Priyanka Sarkar the Jagrik member. The Jagrik peers found the families in the community has less awareness on Child rights, the importance of girl child and the legal rights. The peers Jagrik interact and gave suggestion to the family members that it mentally and physically is not fit for a girl to get marry below eighteen years   of age and it is against law. And also suggested every girl has the right to get education which is her right as per child rights. Here they found that parents and the village children has the vital role to play and needed the basic child rights awareness.

Challenges: The Jagrik peer found the parents hard to accept and pay attention and it was quite difficult to talk openly. They were also feel fear to talk with the parents and were in low self esteem to communicate with the parents. It was also hard for them to convince the families to complete their education.