Story of Parbati Bura, who's also 14, of the same village is not different. Bura who got married two years ago already has a child - the reason that kept her away from school. She laments that even her husband Dilbahadur Buda, who was her classmate no more goes to school."My son needs care round the clock. I cannot attend school. Even my husband has stopped going to school,"said Parbati. According to Dilbahadur, working in field in more important than attending classes. "She has to look after child and also do household chores. I work in field, that's important. We both have left school," he said.
Both Gita and Parbati regret early marriage in their life. "Life feels like a fairy tale until we are confronted with harsh reality. At the time of studying, we fell in love and marriage meant everything for us. But after marriage, we saw life is really hard," Gita took long breath while saying so. Meanwhile, Parbati added that, being a mom is a great responsibility and that at once changes everything for a girl.
Early marriage is rampantly practiced in towns and villages of Jajarkot district. District Education Office states that child marriage is prime cause of six percent of students' drop out rate. According to UN, Nepal is among top ten countries in the world to practice child marriage.
"Earlier it would be more because of traditional practice, but in the changed context, girls and boys themselves are choosing to tie the nuptial knot without reaching proper age," noted Nain Kala Shahi, a local health worker. She added that the growing use of mobile phones, internet and Television has made the youngsters more open and desperate about relationships and sex and as they are not fully aware of the consequences of marrying down in young age, they are falling in the trap.
"It is the result of half knowledge. Today's youngsters have access to several things including the mobile and internets. They think that it's their right to choose their way. However, they are unknown of unsafe relationships and child marriages," Shahi said.
According to Gita, people make it a big deal when they see girls and boys walking together or holding hands. Spending private time or having special moments when they are not yet married make the young ones pay huge cost. Elders are always against close relationship between opposite sexes. And that is why many resort to marriage when they have affair.
"If they would allow youngsters to have good friendship, the problem would not be so severe," she commented.
Shahi reacted that letting adolescents to spend time together is not a solution. Education and awareness is the key of the problem, she said. "All the people of the society need to contribute towards ending this tradition. Elders must try to understand the psychology of the young ones. Similarly, boys and girls should be made aware of the consequences of marrying early," she said.
Shahi added that child marriage is prime cause of growing divorce rate in the district. "And when husband wife divorce, children are hit than any other. In our like poor society, child marriage is certainly a curse and combated," she added.
Photo - Young girls with their kids - early marriage means early motherhood and high child and mother mortality rate - Janak KC
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