Belagavi: Fourteen-year-old rag picker girl of Kalakhamb village of Belagavi taluk made a revolution by standing rebel to the family and entire community by saying ‘no’ to child marriage in-spite of huge pressure.
Swati (name changed) not just refused child marriage strongly but also taught lessons of law to her community of rag pickers. After Swati’s rejection to marry in minor age, her 18 year old elder brother also dropped his wedding with a minor girl. Swati’s cousin sister also followed the same path questioning the age old tradition.
Taken shelter at Vadagaon based Salesion Sister of Don Bosco (SSDB), a non-profit NGO works for orphan and destitute children, presently, Swati is pursuing her education in 8th class. She has a dream of becoming a doctor and serve her community and society.
It’s interesting to hear that Swati, who is second among six children to her parents, never attended school till her age of 11. She used to rag picking along with mother and rearing sheep.
Salesion Sister of Don Bosco picked Sweta convincing her parents and gave her shelter under Chinnara Tangu Dhaam project launched under Sarva Sikshana Abhiyaan in 2009 by the central government.
After one year of moral and educational training in NGO, Swati got admission in 5th standard directly. Meanwhile, when she returned to home during vacations, parents arranged her marriage with a boy from Hunchenatti village. Then Swati was of just 12 age. However, she returned to NGO again but started denying going back to parents even during vacations fearing marriage in minor age, says Praveen Gonsalves, caretaker of children in house, speaking to the The Times of India.