School girl writes to dist admin against child marriage in Odisha

Bhawanipatna: Taking courageous step against her parents’ decision, a girl student belonging to tribal community wrote to district administration seeking its intervention to stop her early marriage here.

Reeta Majhi, a class VII student at Kathaghara Kasturba Gandhi Residential School under Thuamul Rampur block in Kalahandi district in a letter said that while she wanted to continue her study and make a good career, her father Lalu Majhi and mother Lakhmi Majhi were forcing her for early marriage.

According to reports, her parents had fixed her marriage with a person. Suspecting intention of her parents during Durga puja holidays to force her for marriage, Reeta wrote to the district administration to ensure security opposing child marriage.

Even the school authorities also said that the parents of the girl asked them to release her from school for marriage.

Acting on basis of the letter, a three-member panel of district child protection unit and district child welfare committee on direction by collector Anjan Kumar Manik visited Reeta’s home located at Turibhejuguda and recorded her statement. The officials warned her parents to remain away from child marriage.

Besides, the district administration has decided to transfer Reeta from the residential school and allow her to pursue her study under supervision of Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

A notice has been issued asking the parents to appear before the CWC.

On the other hand, two other minor siblings of Reeta will also get admission in a school for education.