CHILD RIGHTS

Rita Deka (name changed) is a 16 year- old- girl from Moniary Tiniali near Mirza. She was in her first year of college when her step-mother forced her to discontinue with her studies. She was mistreated by her step-mother who would physically assault her and make her do all the household chores. Her father was not aware of the abuse she faced in the hands of her step-mother as he was posted in a different place. When CHILDLINE Rani received a call through 1098, the team immediately went and rescued her. She was produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and after rigorous counselling, Rita was handed over to her father. Presently, Rita is in her father’s custody who has re-enrolled her in school

Pooja Rabha (name changed), 14, is from Nichimpura village in Kamrup district. She is in Class 9 and regularly goes to school. On 29th April this year, CHILDLINE Boko received a call from a person that a 17-year-old boy from another village under Boko Police Station, fled away with Pooja. The team immediately rushed to the boy’s house and gathered all concerned people, including the village headman, parents of the children, villagers, etc. and held a sitting. The team spoke to the people present and explained about child marriage and the laws under the Child Marriage Act. The girl was also rescued and produced before the CWC and later restored with her family. Both families took an undertaking that the girl would not allow marriage of their children before attaining the legal age of 18 and 21 years respectively.