Senior Correspondent.TOD.Balurghat
Women, mothers and young girls from across Tulat village gathered at Tulat High School on Tuesday for an awareness programme under the national campaign Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, pledging collective action to prevent child marriage and ensure the safety and education of every child.The awareness camp, which began at noon, was organised by Jakirpur Gram Panchayat, Anganwadi (ICDS) workers and leaders of local Self-Help Groups (SHGs). Shakti Bahini and BAPU – Just Rights for Children – extended their support to the initiative.
The programme focused on strategies to make the village free of child marriage and ensure that every child, particularly girls, can travel to and from school safely and without fear.Addressing the gathering, Mizanur Rahman, district coordinator of Shakti Bahini and BAPU under Just Rights for Children, spoke about the responsibilities of parents, Village-Level Child Protection Committees (VLCPCs), the gram panchayat, ICDS workers, ASHA workers, SHGs and non-governmental organisations in preventing child marriage and protecting children.
ICDS workers and gram panchayat representatives also addressed the gathering.A significant update came from ASHA and ICDS workers, who reported that no child marriage had been recorded in the village since April 2026 and that no cases of teenage pregnancy had been reported during the same period.The meeting also adopted a community-based monitoring strategy. With nearly 95 per cent of households having women associated with SHGs, members pledged to monitor their respective neighbourhoods and remain vigilant against attempts to arrange marriages involving underage girls.
The SHG representatives also agreed to reach out to families of unmarried young men who have migrated to other states for work. Through their families, the men will be contacted by telephone and urged not to enter into marriages with underage girls while living away from home.Participants discussed the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Awareness about online fraud and ways to protect oneself from cybercrime was also raised during the programme.Mizanur Rahman said that Just Rights for Children was working in coordination with the Kumargram Block administration and local police to strengthen child protection efforts. He emphasised the importance of cooperation among government departments, community organisations and local residents.
He also urged people to report cases of missing children or suspected child marriages by calling the toll-free Child Helpline 1098 or the emergency number 112. Callers' names and addresses, he said, would be kept strictly confidential.The programme concluded with participants standing together and taking a collective pledge against child marriage.The initiative highlighted the growing role of women-led community networks in protecting children, keeping girls in school and building a safer environment for the next generation.
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