West Bengal: Girl Dials Childline to Avoid Getting Married, Aspires to be a Nurse

West Bengal: A 15-year-old girl from a rural hamlet in West Bengal's Purulia district called Childline at the right time, which enabled the young woman to avoid getting married.
Purnima Lohar (real name changed), a resident of Kashipur and a member of the community's "Kanyashree" organisation that raises awareness of social ills, was well aware that 18 was the minimum age for marriage.
Lohar claimed that during her numerous visits to an Anganwadi centre in Dobapara, 260 kilometres from Kolkata, she had also learned about the negative effects of child marriage from Asha and UNICEF trainers.
A few months prior, the girl had promptly called Childline at 1098 and reported that her parents were forcing her to get married off despite her desire to finish her education and become a nurse after realising that she would soon become a victim as well.

"I contacted Child Helpline, and as soon as I did, someone asked for my name, address, and other information. Afterward, administrative and police representatives came to my home and convinced my parents not to marry me off because I was still a minor," at an anganwadi facility in Kashipur, Lohar spoke to PTI.

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Girl's parents agree to let her persue education

When asked if her parents disapproved of her decision, she responded, "They were first outraged, but after the officials explained why a young woman shouldn't get married, they agreed to let me continue my education.

Lohar declared that she wished to train as a nurse and help people. "During the COVID-induced lockdown, my father lost his job and saw me as a financial burden on the family. But now that he realises how valuable having a daughter is," she told.

In order to stop child weddings, UNICEF's Child Protection Officer Swapnodipa Biswas reported that the organisation has established child protection committees at the block and village levels in Kashipur, Jhalda, and other areas of the Purulia district.

She added that among other things, children are being taught about reproductive and sexual health as well as menstrual hygiene.

In order to combat societal ills like child marriage, UNICEF is offering technical assistance to develop programmes like the West Bengal government's flagship "Kanyashree."

Additionally, it is assisting the district administration in Purulia and the other 12 West Bengal districts with the creation of "Kanyashree" clubs to help lessen child marriage.

In order to raise awareness among girls about their health and other issues that affect them, Kanyashree clubs are organisations founded in schools and other institutions.

The girls subsequently told everyone in the neighbourhood the same thing.

According to the National Family Health Survey-4 (NFHS), which was conducted in 2015–16, the percentage of child marriage in the Purulia district was 43.7%. According to Biswas, it dropped to 37% in NFHS-5 (2019–21).

Many girls now report to Child Helpline, the district government, or the police if their parents attempt to end their marriage before they reach adulthood as a result of these girl empowerment programmes.

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Administrative personnel visit the household and discourage the locals from such acts

According to Hemant Pramanik, the joint block development officer of Jhalda-I in Purulia, "Administrative personnel visit the household and discourage the members from doing so upon receiving allegations of a family trying to marry off a juvenile girl."

Another district official claimed that during the COVID-induced lockdown, the government stopped two child marriages.

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