If you walk around Kamalawari in Pandaul village of Madhubani, Bihar, you might spot a young girl who reaches the community centre first, eagerly waiting for her friends and peers to arrive for the children’s group meeting. Her name is Sheela.

Her family is very poor. Sheela went to neighbourhood government school, 3.5 kms away from her home, in Belahi. Her mother is deceased. Her older brother worked in another city while her father begged at the railway station in Madhubani town. Most days Sheela lived alone. Her older sister was married and lived in another village. Sheela studied in class 8.

Sheela wasn’t part of the Girl’s Group, but frequently interacted with its member, many of whom were her friends. Mangu Ram who was a school teacher and a rich, powerful man in the village. Under the pretext of giving her home tuitions, he lured Sheela gradually and raped her, perhaps repeatedly.

Some girls from the Girl’s Group decided to visit Sheela one day as she had not been attending school from a few days. On reaching Sheela’s home, the Girl’s Group members found her alone and bleeding. The Girl’s Group members immediately informed the VCPC and Sheela was taken to the Sadar hospital accompanied by VCPC members and Girl’s Group members. On probing, it was discovered that Sheela underwent an abortion at 8 months, at a private clinic, pressured by Mangu Ram.

The adolescent girls and VCPC, guided by Sarvo Prayas Sanstha, supported Sheela during her treatment at the hospital and once she returned home after getting discharged from the hospital. They convinced Sheela’s brother to register a case against Mangu Ram. It was understood that Mangu Ram made many offers of money at the police station. Sheela’s story spread across the village, and was brought to the attention of Superintendent of Police by VCPC and Sarvo Prayas Sanstha, who ordered Mangu Ram’s urgent arrest.

After selling his land, paying bribes and threatening Sheela, he was arrested a month later at the Madhubani Bus stop, under the Protection of Children from sexual offence Act, 2012. It was the young girls of the village and the Children’s group that supported Sheela both emotionally and mentally, convincing her not to compromise or settle. While on bail, Mangu Ram approached Sheela’s father with a Rs. 2 lakh settlement, only to be told that it was Sheela’s decision.

Sheela’s fight for justice continues as the case is ongoing in court. Despite numerous threats, she stood her ground, and stands tall as an example to many other girls in her village.

A SURVIVOR OF CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE REMAINS AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE ADOLESCENT GIRLS' GROUP

“We all say child labour is bad. But Ram & Shyam have been working, and no one is doing anything to help them!”, said a concerned boy at the Children’s Group meeting.

Ram & Shyam Kumar were brothers of the Malas or fisherman caste who lived in Shahpur village in Pandaul. Their mother had died when they were much younger, and their father remained busy as a daily wage labourer. Since a single man daily wage couldn’t manage the education of two young boys, the brothers decided to take on part time jobs.

Ram started working at a tea stall outside the Madhubani court campus, 8 kms from his house, while Shyam worked at a tea stall near Jaynagar railway station, a 35 km commute (to and fro) each day. Instead of going to school, they ended up working full time, from 7 am to 7 pm, for Rs. 400 per month.

A concerned young girl from the Children’s Group decided to visit Ram & Shyam’s school to find out about them. On speaking with their teacher, she realized that they had been absent from school for 6 months. At ages 12 and 14, they were working to make a living as opposed to learning in school. On jointly approaching the boys, the VCPC and Children’s Group learnt that the boys had been working to pay for school, but had been bullied by the tea stall owners to work full time, not received their payment, and only been given food and Rs.10 for their commute.

A VCPC member, along with two girls from the Children’s group (who wanted to observe how such matters are dealt with) made a visit to the tea stall owner. On questioning Ram’s employer, about how he could employ a child, the owner said that Ram was working voluntarily. The VCPC member told him of the consequences (being sent to jail) if the Labour Superintendent was to find out. People gathered around during this conversation also agreed that child labour was a crime. Ram was paid his dues and the owner promised never to employ a child again.

The next day, a few VCPC members, including a ward member went to meet the owner of the tea stall Shyam worked at. They brought to his notice the legal implications of employing a child and asked that Shyam be paid his pending payment of Rs. 5000.

Today, Ram & Shyam are enrolled in school, and have been standing first in class ever since. The VCPC and Children’s Group helped them buy books and clothes from the money they earned. Shyam also gives tuitions to other students in his village, free of cost.

FROM WORKING AT TEA STALLS TO STANDING FIRST IN CLASS

Early marriage in Sisai Village, Bisfi is common place. Girls were geared towards household chores and caring for their younger siblings. They were second class citizens in their own homes, having to place the needs of their fathers and brothers before their own, sacrificing their education, freedom and equality on every count, prepping towards the same role in her husband’s home.

Mona was 16 years old, and she had felt love for the first time.

She was part of the children’s group in her village where they actively challenge traditional norms and are aware of legal provisions to protect children.

Lalu on the other hand, was 21 years, and wanting to elope and marry Mona. But Mona was adamant that she would not marry until she turned 18, wanting to hold off marriage for 2 years. Mona, wanting to find a solution for her dilemma and also create awareness on child marriage in her village requested her fellow Children’s Group member, Preeti, to raise this issue in the upcoming meeting.

As the discussion for the day proceeded, Mona was candid about her wish to marry Lalu, but was also certain that she would wait until she was legally permitted to marry. The Children’s Group shared this with the Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) Secretary who spoke with Lalu and explained that there was no harm in the both of them getting married, however since Mona was not yet of marriageable age, they would have to wait.

Lalu agreed in principle, but started coercing Mona to run away with him a few days later. Mona Kumari flatly refused. Once again, Lalu was called by the VCPC and informed of the ramifications of flouting the Child Marriage Act. When Mona Kumari turned 18 in 2018, she and Lalu got married.

CHOOSING HER OWN PATH: MONA KUMARI STAYS ADAMANT ON MARRYING AFTER 18