Odisha: Tribal schoolgirl stops her wedding by writing to district official

A 13-year-old tribal girl from Odisha’s Kalahandi district prevented her parents from getting her married off to a drunkard by informing about the marriage to district administration on Monday.

The class VII student of Kathaghara Kasturba Gandhi Residential School in Thuamul Rampur, Reeta Majhi, wrote to the district administration seeking their assistance to stop her wedding.

In the letter to the district administration Reeta wrote that she wanted to study and was not ready for marriage, said an official of the Kalahandi district.

On receiving the request Kalahandi district collector Anjan Kumar Manik formed a team to enquire the matter and stop the wedding.

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The team formed the Kalahandi district collector included members of child protection unit and child welfare committee.

The team on Monday visited the minor’s residence at Turibhejugua and recorded her statement.

According to the statement given by the girl, her father is an alcoholic and has arranged her wedding with another drunkard of their locality during dussera.

She also mentioned that her mother also supported her father’s decision.

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The minor’s school authorities also confirmed that Reeta’s parents wanted to take her home during the festive season.

The officials visiting her house informed her parents that child marriage was illegal and forbade them from getting the minor married till she attains adulthood.

District Child protection officer Sailendu Sekhar Mohapatra told the media, “The wedding could only be stopped because of the girl’s courageous step.”