Child marriage and child labour are a toxic blend that ruins young lives. Many a time, early marriages are done to bring child brides into forced household chores. This has a serious burden on young girls which leads to health, safety, bodily integrity, and self-determination issues. In rural West Bengal, child marriage, according to NFHS-5, is much higher at 48.1 percent: the figure is 26.2 percent for urban areas. The fact that four out of ten women aged 20-24 are married off before 18, bells the alarm for the actors working in child rights.

The Surokhit Shaihav program sees a link between child marriage and child labour, being both are a violation of basic human rights and deprivation. Caritas India regularly organizes awareness programs on child marriage because of its hidden link with the issue of child labour. Caritas India engages with Anganwadi centres and schools under this program as the primary caregiver role of teachers and Anganwadi workers are very important. The adolescents’ knowledge, attitude and practices are built on the issues of forced labour and early child marriage through this program.

Keeping the country’s national strategy in mind, a one-day orientation program was organised under Surokhit Shaishav in collaboration with District Children Protection Unit (DCPU) to launch a campaign against Early Child Marriage at Jorebunglow Sukhia Pokhari Block at Pokhriabong, Community Hall. Two ICDS supervisors Mrs. Anita Rai and Mrs. Paulina Lepcha, ICDS staff, Police Volunteers, Police Officers, and teachers and students from three schools Pokhriabong Girls’ H.S school, Pokhriabong Boys H.S School, Model Academy were present, total of 120 participants was present on that day.

A campaign poster on Early Child Marriage was released by dignitaries including DCPU, Police, ICDS, and School Headmaster and Students. Mothers, expectant mothers and other women were selected to spread the information on the harmful effects of early marriage as they play an active role in the physical, psychological and social development of the child. Mr. Gyanendra Sharma and Mr. Purba Sherpa DCPU officers – Darjeeling and Mr. Tej Kr Thapa were key resource persons.

Sighting examples from his experience, Mr Gyanendra Sharma informed the rise of early child marriages in villages. Parents were lured into getting their children married. Many are not even aware of the correct/legal age of marriage for girls and boys. Thus, awareness within the community is very much required.

Mr Dipak Barua, Police officer-in-charge of Nagari Out Post shared the legal implications of early marriage. He strongly spoke that even “if a child decides to run away with his girlfriend or boyfriend, legally their decision is not valid so it’s still a crime even when they elope on mutual agreement. Thus, both must attain the marriage permissible age.”

The supervisor of ICDS, Mrs. Anita Rai, shared about the health implications of early /underage marriage. “A girl and a boy are not physically ready and mentally sound nor healthy to marry.” During their teenage, the body is still developing, and certain organs are still developing. Mentally, emotionally and psychologically teenagers have just started to experience life at the very initial stage. Since they don’t know much about life, and its challenges they cannot face the difficulties and take proper decisions for their families.

They are unable to get good jobs as they discontinue their studies and become dropouts.

This creates a lot of financial difficulties and as time goes by family disturbance and separations are inevitable.

Tej Thapa, Child Protection Officer shared about factors that destroy a child’s life. He explained how we as a society and as an adult should be responsible for children’s misguidance and how we fail to provide a friendly environment to children which is a basic necessity.

He also talked about cybercrimes and how sharing one’s personal information or emotions on social sites can harm us in many ways. Schools now reopening and effective implementation of protection laws and policies, access to health education and socials services and providing comprehensive safety nets for vulnerable families can significantly reduce a child’s risk of having her/his childhood stolen through marriage.