December 14, 2020
Preeti Devi speaks with the kind of maturity which can be rarely expected in a 16-year-old. A resident of Aligarh in Rajasthanâs Dholpur district, the girl is fighting the practice of child marriage inspired by her mother Rajkumari. âGirls usually get married early in these parts. It increases the risk of teen pregnancy which affects their health,â she said. Preeti is a Class 12 student in Aligarhâs Rajkiye Uchha Madhyamik Vidyalaya.
Her mother also tries to drill some sense in her neighbours. At the same time, she talks about the evil of dowry. âThe two are linked. As many boys demand large sums of money as dowry, most families marry off their daughters early to reduce financial burden,â Rajkumari said.