States » NorthPosted at: Nov 6 2026 1:28AM


16-year-old girl calls Child Helpline 1098, stops her own marriage in UP

Lucknow, Nov 5 (UNI) A 16-year-old girl from Ballia district in Uttar Pradesh took a stand against her own marriage by calling authorities after learning that her family had arranged a wedding for her.
Aware that she was underage and that the marriage was not legally permitted, she reached out to the Child Helpline (1098) for help. Her call set an intervention in motion, bringing together the district Department of Women and Child Development, the police and Navbharti Nari Vikas Samiti to ensure that the wedding was stopped in time.
The incident took place in a village in the Bairia area of Ballia. On Tuesday last, Sonia (name changed) called the Child Helpline and informed the staff that she was a minor and her marriage was scheduled to take place within a few days.
Taking immediate note of the complaint, the District Department of Women and Child Development initiated action. District probation officer Dr Amarendra Kumar Pautsayan formed a team, which included Manjeet Yadav of Navbharti Nari Vikas Samiti. With support from the Suremanpur police, the team reached the village, verified the information and intervened to stop the wedding.
Azhar Ali, director of Navbharti Nari Vikas Samiti, an NGO partner of Just Rights for Children (JRC), India’s largest civil society network of more than 300 NGOs working on child protection, said, “We are conducting awareness campaigns in villages, particularly in schools, to help eradicate child marriage. These efforts have played an important role in preventing such marriages. With the support and prompt action of the police and local administration, we were able to reach the families of both the girl and the boy in time. Had Sonia not called us when she did, it would have been difficult to intervene. This case shows how making children aware of their rights and informing them about where they can seek help can make a real difference in preventing child marriage.”
Sonia’s marriage had been arranged with a 25-year-old man who works in Saudi Arabia, with the wedding scheduled for November 11 in her village. During the intervention, officials spoke to her father to understand why the family had decided to marry her off at such a young age. He cited the family's difficult financial circumstances, explaining that he has a disability and feels unable to shoulder his daughter's responsibilities. Sonia’s mother works as a labourer at a nearby factory.
While Sonia’s parents agreed to call off the wedding after being informed that marrying off a minor is a punishable offence, the boy’s family was initially reluctant. They argued that wedding invitations had already been distributed and that cancelling the ceremony would bring social embarrassment to the family.
The intervention team explained the provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA) and the legal consequences of proceeding with the marriage. Following these discussions, the boy’s family also agreed to call off the wedding. Both families were asked to sign affidavits undertaking that Sonia would not be married before reaching the legally prescribed age.
With the wedding called off, Sonia can now focus on what she wants for her future. She has completed her high school education and hopes to continue studying. By taking timely action, she not only saved herself from child marriage but also kept the path open for further education and the opportunity to shape a future of her own choosing.
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Tags: #16-year-old girl calls Child Helpline 1098# stops her own marriage in UP
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