-: Problem being attempted to change :-

“Child Marriage”

-: Problem being attempted to change :-

“Child Marriage”

That child marriage is a big social evil prevailing in Rajasthan and it has gripped our village so badly that many of children are married in early age. This evil tradition has affected the education of the children/students adversely and the married children leaves the school and add to the number of drop outs in the schools.

The recent report from UN stating India as the capital of child marriage followed by local case of our student “Vishna Ram” getting married in early days of his childhood which is one among many such cases, made us feel the urge to bring awareness among children and their parents on this blazing issue. Child marriage is a curse for every child but is specially destructive for a girl child. Child marriage denies a girl of her childhood, disrupts her education, limits her opportunities, increases her risk to be a victim of violence and jeopardizes her health. So we stepped in to do our bit and make the current situation as better as we can so that these little flowers can bloom upto their potential and not be bogged down by this evil.

Student of Vth class lead this campaign

That this evil tradition is annihilated from our village and all the children of our village realize their dreams our village becomes the role model to initiate a campaign against this social evil..

We organized a rally through the village and stuck posters on the village walls to sensitize people against this evil. We persuaded the parents,who had already got their children engaged, not to get their children married and succeeded in getting the commitment letter filled by them.

Sarpanch & other key person of society flagged off the rally to village.

Sharing of success stories

Students organized a role play to highlight the after effects of child marriage and the woes that the children and parents suffer. We took support from the social activists working on this issue and organized their talks.

Role play by students

Students organized small meetings in village with group of 5 to 6 men & women, discuss & highlight the after effects of child marriage and the woes that the children and parents suffer.

Sharing of success stories and signing affidavit.

Students shared success stories of child marriage with all community members in small groups and also take oath from all members not to encourage child marriage in village and also not to attend such marriages.

Affidavit by SarpanchSarpanch & Community members taking oath

The extremely wonderful and realistic performance by the students touched the heart of each and everyone present. Moved by the play, people came forward and requested the people to stand against the social evil of child marriage. The people appreciated the play by the SBS students and requested them to enact the play in the neighboring villages also. The village panchayat also gave us a letter of appreciation for this noble campaign. Sarpanch of village and other key members assured all students that they would not encourage such evils in village/society. Sarpanch of village also assured that he will take action / inform police if somebody caught doing so.

Our effort are covered / supported by “Rajasthan Patrika” leading News Paper of Rajasthan.

The success of the campaign strengthened our belief that we were working in the right direction. We were successful in saving the future of many students who had been engaged. Now they can continue studying and realize their dreams. We feel that we are strong enough to take on even the serious most social issues

Experience of Community Members & Teachers:

“ These little kids have done a wonderful job & sensitized us to pick up a sensitive issue. I am planning to raise this issue in upcoming gram panchayat meeting. Personally I promise not support child marriage in my village. - Mr. Dudaram Sarpanch of Sopara.

“ I am very pleased with efforts of little children's. Mr. Jetha Ram (Youth Leader)

“ These kids sensitized us, thankful to them. Mr. Shriram (Ex Sarpanch)

“ It’s a good initiative taken by students of Satya Bharti School, Sopara. We promise not to encourage such social evils. Its our responsibility to this forward & ensure implementation. Mr. Guman Ram (Patwari)

Students Of Class V Satya Bharti School, Sopara (Jodhpur, Rajasthan)

Thank You

Students

Ramswroop Mamta Gulab

Bhavana Kana Ram Mahendra

Bharat Vijesh Vishna Ram

Prakash Kusum Rampyari