Woman spearheads campaign to thwart child marriage

MYAGDI, March 4: Laxmi BK of Myagdi district is waging a campaign to stop child marriage. She has been spreading information about the ugly effects of child marriage among school students and in some villages of the district. BK has formed a youth network with members in 20 VDCs, including Babiyachaur, Amarna, Darbang, Niskot, Okharbot, Debisthan, Bim, Takam, Muna, Mudi, Lulang, and Gurja, working to thwart the tradition of child marriage.

According to her, she started the campaign after seeing young children from poor families being pressurized to get married early.


"Most of the children who were married off early are not in a good condition. The children are given away in marriage against their wishes," she added.

BK and her campaign team has been using slogans such as "Marriage after 20," "Child Marriage, A Social Crime," "Our Society, Free of Child Marriage," among others. Organizations that work for women and children, child welfare committee, Plan Nepal, among others, have supported her in her campaigns.

"Many school students participated in this campaign," said Mithu Acharya, chief of District Child Welfare Committee. "This will certainly discourage child marriage."

In their campaigns, they highlight the adverse effects of child marriage on children and women's physical and mental health. Families that intend to marry off their children are threatened with socially boycott. The campaign that started from Myagdi district is likely to spread to other districts.

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