This is the story of Karthala village, situated in the Aligarh district of Uttar Pradesh, where child marriage is still a harsh reality, two minor sisters, Kumkum (13) and Kirti (15), were set to be married off on January 20, 2024, due to their family's financial struggles. Their father, Rakesh Singh, a professional exorcist, saw this as an opportunity for monetary gain.
However, the tide turned when Fiza, the local project worker, learned about the situation. Despite initial resistance from the family, Fiza, determined to protect the girls' future, sought support from her peers, who promptly alerted the police station. Acting swiftly, the police registered a case under the Child Marriage Prohibition Act and confronted the family. Though the parents initially denied the allegations, testimonies from neighbors confirmed the truth. After understanding the legal repercussions, the parents relented and called off the marriage. This intervention not only safeguarded Kumkum and Kirti’s childhood but also sent a strong message across the village, deterring several other child marriages and fostering awareness about legal protections for young girls
From Project: Transformation-India-BMZ-22 written by Ritu Mishra