Lalita Devi, a 27-year-old woman and a housewife of Balara Municipality ward no.10, had formal education to Class 7 only. She was married at the age of 17 by her illiterate parents. Given her marriage at child age, she had no idea of life or family responsibility. After her marriage, all she has been doing is caring of her in-laws and three daughters. She was not allowed to go out of her house .One evening; Lalita had the opportunity to watch some documentary films against social evils such as child marriage, premature babies, and dowry systems screened by the KAKA Community Learning Center (KAKA CLC) at Rajkumar Singh’s premise. She was with sister-in-law Sushila. The contents of the films reminded Lalita of her own child marriage and loss of her one baby at an early age
It seemed that Lalita did not benefit at all from watching the films! One day, some guests visited her house. While preparing refreshments and tea for them, Lalita overheard her in-laws and the guests discussing the marriage of her eldest daughter Sumitra. After confirming the conversation with her sister-in-law Sushila, Lalita took a position against the possible child marriage. She told Sushila:
“Sumitra is a child and in school. She has to be prepared to take responsibility of running a family. I do not want her to suffer like me. I shall not allow this marriage.”
Lalita did not stop here. She talked to her husband Chunchun, narrating how she has been suffering because of child marriage. She argued and convinced him (1) that Sumitra ought to be educated up to Class XII of our own village school, (2) that independence and skills in Sumitra are important than her marriage, and (3) that she would never allow this marriage. Convincing him of the merit of her position, Lalita prevented child marriage and became a model of other women in the village. Importantly, other women are nowadays consulting Lalita about how to safeguard interests of girls in the village. Hasn’t she become an activist against child marriage?