In a heartening tale of resilience, a young girl named Jyotsna Akhtar has become an inspiration by defying her parents’ attempts to marry her off at an early age. Hailing from a humble Muslim family, Jyotsna has emerged as a symbol of hope in the fight against child marriage.
The commendation of Minority Welfare Minister Shukla Charan Noatia and Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha further added to Jyotsna Akhtar’s acclaim.
Dr. Saha took to Twitter to shed light on the detrimental effects of child marriage and praised Jyotsna for her courage. He emphasized that eradicating the practice requires not only administrative action but also a collective awakening of society.
South Tripura district’s successful efforts in preventing child marriage, with Jyotsna Akhtar, a student at Amjadnagar School, at the forefront, were acknowledged by the Chief Minister.
He also applauded the effective role played by the South District administration and called on people from all walks of life to raise awareness against child marriage.
Subrata Chakraborty, the school in-charge, shared Jyotsna’s inspiring journey and her unwavering determination to stand tall despite immense pressure.
He revealed that child marriage was prevalent in the area, with nearly 99% of the students in the school belonging to the Muslim community.
In many cases, girls were unaware of their impending marriages until they failed to attend school for several consecutive days. To address this serious issue, the South District DM and District Education Department initiated the establishment of Balika Manch, a girls’ forum, in schools.
This forum aims to raise awareness among students and parents, urging them to halt child marriage. In Jyotsna’s fight against child marriage, Balika Manch from Amjadnagar HS School, along with Child Line and other stakeholders, provided her with support and assistance.
Chakraborty recounted the incident when Jyotsna, a ninth-grade student, informed the school authorities about her parent’s plans for her marriage.
Swiftly, they intervened, visiting her parents to address the situation. However, Jyotsna stopped attending school and became uncommunicative for several days.
She managed to reach out to her elder sister, who had also been married while still a student, and informed the school about her ordeal.
The in-charge praised Jyotsna’s courage and resilience throughout her arduous battle against her parents and the community’s expectations. Fortunately, her elder sister stood by her side and facilitated contact with the school and Balika Manch. Jyotsna’s remarkable journey has now led her to become the convener of the school’s Balika Manch, which is intensifying its efforts to sensitize people about the issue of child marriage.
The impact of Jyotsna’s fight against child marriage received a significant boost when Minority Welfare Minister Shukla Charan Noatia visited her and assured her family of the state government’s support through various schemes.
In a heartfelt plea to all parents and young girls, Jyotsna said, “Please allow us to study and grow into adulthood.”
Jyotsna Akhtar’s unwavering determination and bravery have not only defied societal norms but also ignited a spark of change in the battle against child marriage. Her story serves as a beacon of hope and an inspiration for others to challenge this harmful practice, fostering a brighter future for girls across the nation.
