Support Girls' Education in India

V. Anitha is a 16 year-old girl from a small, interior village called Buddaram located in the Indian state of Telangana. Like many of her classmates, Anitha’s parents are “Coolies,” or day laborers – finding work when they can and often laboring for upwards of 16-hours each day. Despite their efforts, Anitha and her parents live in extreme poverty and often don’t make enough to afford even the most basic necessities.

When Anitha was in Grade 9, her parents were approached by a wealthy family who wanted to arrange a marriage between Anitha and their 22 year-old son. In India, when girls are wed their parents must pay a dowry. As a girl ages, the dowry increases and therefore Anitha’s parents were pleased with the proposal (as the 5,000 Rupee dowry that the boy’s parents were asking for was all that they could afford). Marriage would also place Anitha’s care in another family’s hands, taking the financial burden for the young girl off of her parents.

When Anitha was told of the proposal, she begged her parents not to go through with the arrangement. As a Girls’ Education scholar, Anitha was well aware of the risks and dangers that come along with child marriage. However, despite her pleas, her parents remained secure in their decision. When Anitha’s school went on holiday, her parents enrolled her in a tailoring course so that she would be able to find work after the wedding – making her more appealing to her future husband and his family.

As school started-up again, Anitha’s parents forbade her to return, viewing her education as an inconvenience to the wedding preparations. After Anitha missed a few days of school, Room to Read’s Social Mobilizers visited the young girl to find out the reasons for her absence. Anitha disclosed her anxieties and fears regarding her upcoming marriage, explaining that she wanted to remain in school and wanted to complete her degree. Our team tried to persuade the Anitha's parents to stop the wedding, but our efforts were unsuccessful at first. 

After this initial meeting, our team enlisted the help of the school’s parent and teacher groups in convincing Anitha’s parents to call off the wedding. The school met with the girl’s mother and father and explained that child marriage is not only dangerous, but illegal. The group also brought up the implications of the practice on Anitha’s future and potential.

After five visits, Anitha’s parents agreed to call the marriage off and to let her return to her studies. Anitha is now thriving at school and is a regular participant in program activities and workshops. Anitha says, “I wish to become a teacher to mold future generations. I have the confidence to achieve my goal facing any problems that come my way. Without the support and assistance and encouragement of Room to Read, I would not been the person that I am today. I am grateful to the valuable support.”