By Jibachha Yadav, Lahan, Dec. 17: A campaign launched by different organisations on the negative social, economic, mental and physical effects of child marriage has resulted in the fall of child marriage in the district.

Social campaigners are happy that various programmes have had a positive impact on controlling child marriage in poor Dalit communities that lack both education and awareness.

Binod Bisunke, director of the Dalit Janakalyan Youth Club in Lahan-10, said that the club has created various interactive plays and drawings in the Dalit settlements to control child marriage practices.

According to Bisunke, more than 70 per cent of child marriages have been stopped in a Dalit settlement compared to ten years ago. Earlier, children in the eighth grade would get married. After the campaign was launched, the local political parties, people's representatives and even the police administration showed their initiative to stop child marriage.

Mina Marik (Dom) of Lahan-1 said that it was customary in the Dom community to get married at the age of four or five. But now, only after the age of 20 the talks of marriage begin.

Mina said, “Leave everything behind, my daughter is studying in 12th standard now. We are thinking of getting her married off only after twenty years. All this is because of the hard work of Dalit campaigners. There is no child marriage in the Dom community now.”

According to Rangalal Shah, head teacher of Lahan-10 Bariya Gundigaun, “99 per cent Dalit children currently study in this school. A few years ago, there was a trend of getting married after reaching the eighth standard. Dalit campaigners have reached out to schools and parents' homes to make them aware and stop child marriages. The campaign has had a positive effect.”

Geeta Sah, a women's rights activist, said the campaign was effective after all the local bodies worked together to stop child marriage.

Deputy Chief of Lahan Municipality Sariyar Chaudhary said that the number of child marriages has come down drastically. Positive initiatives were taken by all actors to stop child marriage, he said.

Chief Deputy Superintendent of Area Police Office, Lahan, Sharad Thapa Chhetri said that child marriage had been stopped due to timely campaigning and information about child marriage.