Source: BBC News
A young woman has had her child “marriage” legally annulled in northern Rajasthan state, in what is thought to be the first case of its kind in India.
Laxmi Sargara, 18, wed Rakesh when she was just one and he was three.
She grew up with her own family, only finding out she was married when her in-laws came to claim her this month.
Child marriages are illegal in India but are still common in many parts of the country, especially in rural and poorer communities.
“I was unhappy about the marriage. I told my parents who did not agree with me, then I sought help,” Laxmi told Agence France Presse (AFP) news agency.
She knew nothing of her future life until a few days ago when her groom’s family came to take her home with them to start her new life as Rakesh’s wife.
Things like these happen in all poor under-developed and developing countries, but it takes different forms.
For example out here FGM leads to a lot of abuse of girls and women and while they are not married off at this extreme young age, they are young all the same and minors when their education is interrupted at around the age of 12 and they are married off to men who could be their fathers!
But, the government and other NGOs take action immediately such actions are discovered.
FGM is also on the decline due to awareness and education, Alhamdulillah.
Well, we can look at it from another point of view: If this young lady was ‘married’ as a child her parents should have informed her and prepared her for the day that the ‘husband’ will come and collect her. If that was done correctly then she might have even looked forward to the day…
(just an idea…)…