DONATE GENEROUSLY FOR CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN!!
“Child protection as the prevention of or responding to the incidence of abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect of children when child protection fails or is absent children have a higher risk of death, poor physical and mental health, HIV/ AIDS infection, educational problems, displacement, homelessness, vagrancy and poor parenting skills later in life”. Children's rights to survival, development, growth, and participation are all enhanced when they are protected
Not every child is lucky enough to grow up in an environment that promotes appropriate growth. Because of their unique socio-economic and political conditions, as well as their geographic location, the need to safeguard certain children is unquestionably higher than for others. They are more vulnerable in terms of their right to survival, development, protection, and participation being affected. It is the responsibility of Government to provide care and protection to the deprived children. The Government enacted Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 ensuring the minimum standards of care and protection of children keeping in view of the best interest of child.
Case Study:
Name: X
Age-15 Years
Place: Hariharpara, Murshidabad, West Bengal, India
Support Extended: Shelter; Nutrition; Counselling; Education and Sports inputs
X is an active and regular member of Jabala’s girls’ group, a drop out but showed willingness to rejoin the school. An energetic football player of Jabala’s football team and an enthusiast who always raises voice against social taboos and lobbied with parents of other girls to allow them to play football.
Background:
Hariharpara Block where more than 41% girls are getting married before the legal age of 18. Patriarchal control; gender inequality are the main drivers for child marriage of this area. Various other factors are poverty due to lack of alternative livelihood opportunities, growing demands for dowry (girls looked as economic burden) are also present.
Incident:
X lost her mother early and lives with her father, brother and sister-in-law. The family also tried to marry her off in March’24 but getting the news Jabala’s team members went to X’s house and dissuaded her father. The things changed again in October’24 when, X’s family secretly arranged her marriage on 06.10.2024 thinking that no one can interfere. X was totally unwilling to get married but was under pressure from family members. The community worker of Jabala got the news from other girls during her interaction and immediately alerted Jabala’s local and head office over phone about the impending marriage.
Intervention:
Jabala team immediately informed BDO (Block Development Officer), Local Police Station and CDPO (Child Development Project Officer) over phone, SMS and mail. SP (Superintendent of Police) and District Social Welfare Officer were also informed through mail.
Local Officer In-Charge along with other police personnel and local Jabala’s team members visited Neha’s house and dissuaded to family to postpone the marriage as it is illegal. CDPO visited family to make sure this marriage is not taking place. Police made the family to sign a written undertaking in presence of other villagers that X shall not be married off before the age of 18. The responses from all government officials were prompt and deserves appreciation.
Present Situation:
Neha now a happy girl after spending about 15 days in Jabala’s Crisis Intervention Centre (Temporary Shelter) where she was provided with Counselling and other necessary support. She expressed her willingness again to join school and enrolled back. Her peers are also happy and confident that together they can stop the child marriage.
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