“I was returning from fieldwork when I found my entire family gathered in our hut, discussing that I would no longer engage in fieldwork,” said Sawatri Bai Kolhi, a 19-year-old resident of Waori, a small village in Tharparkar. She was married at 17.

Recounting her experience, Sawatri said she was asked to be prepared for marriage within the next five days.” Reflecting on her initial excitement about receiving new dresses and jewellery, she expressed disappointment that no one had explained to her the role of a wife or the expectations of her in-laws.

Two years later, Sawatri’s life has changed, but not necessarily for the better.

“I’m a mother of a one-year-old. This is my second pregnancy. I endured significant challenges as my age and body were not suited for childbirth. The lady doctor at the district hospital, who was attending to me, had tears in her eyes”, says Sawatri. “Her sympathy was supportive. She advised me not to pursue a second pregnancy and emphasised the importance of birth spacing. However, my husband never engaged in conversation with me. In our culture, it is taboo for husbands and wives to engage in a discussion.”

Like Sawatri, thousands of girls are married young. Underage marriages continue to take place in the province despite the enactment of a law in 2014 that prohibits the unlawful social practice of marrying children before the age of 18.

Speaking about these laws, Shankar Meghwar, a lawyer handling child marriage cases in Sindh High Court, says that the legal framework addressing child marriage in Sindh includes the Child Marriage Restraint Act of 1929 and the more recent Child Marriage Restraint Act of 2014, complemented by the corresponding Child Marriage Restraint Rules of 2016.

Comprehensive enforcement of these laws remains a challenge. Some cases have been registered under the 2014 laws, but their full implementation remains elusive.

In Meghwar’s opinion, a more stringent approach is essential. He says this should include widespread awareness campaigns targeting the general public, judicial officers and key stakeholders such as the police, Social Welfare Department and child rights committees. He says the penal consequences must be rigorously enforced to make the laws effective. The well-being and development of children must be the top priority, he says. He says it is crucial to address harmful cultural customs that jeopardise the lives of children.

“Considerations should include heightened penalties to deter and combat child marriage effectively. These measures collectively aim to create a protective environment, ensuring the rights and prospects of the children in Sindh.” Meghwar adds.

Social Welfare Department deputy director in Tharparkar, Kelash Kumar, acknowledges the existence of child marriages in the region, particularly among the Bheel and Kolhi communities. He cites alarming numbers. He highlights the impact of population and migration patterns, exacerbated by droughts and climate disasters.

“I’m a mother of a one-year-old. This is my second pregnancy. I endured significant challenges as my age and body were not suited for childbirth. The lady doctor at the district hospital, who was attending to me, had tears in her eyes”.

Kelash Kumar emphasises that many cases go unreported. He says the parents often believe that marrying their children at the ages of 15 or 16 is alright. However, he adds that the Social Welfare Department is committed to addressing the issue. If anyone reports or has suspicions about child marriage, the department collaborates with relevant authorities, departments and the police.

He explains the referral mechanism within the department to handle such situations, ensuring prompt action. Despite these efforts, Kelash Kumar points out a significant gap – the absence of shelters in Tharparkar for children facing problems like child marriage and abuse. In such cases, they are compelled to seek assistance in Malir, Karachi.

Partab Rai Shivani, the chief executive officer of Thar Education Alliance, highlights the prevalence of child marriages in the Bheel and Kolhi communities in Tharparkar. He say the practice has persists due to seasonal migration for crop activities, posing a significant challenge to address.

Shivani emphasises the difficulty in tackling this issue, particularly as these communities lack permanent residence. Reflecting on the past 5-10 years, he says, concerns have been raised about the lack of access to education in remote areas of Thar, leading to ignorance about the consequences of underage marriage. He says the government has established some schools and deployed teachers in every village of Thar.

Shivani suggests some potential solutions, proposing a shift in the policy of school vacations from June and July to January and February to align with migration periods. He also says encouraging non-formal education and skill development programmes in these areas could empower girls to learn and engage in diverse ways. He recommends strict advisories for institutes to issue school leaving certificates to migrating children, facilitating seamless continuation of their academic journeys. Motivating parents has been identified as a promising solution.

Pushpa Kumari, a women and human rights defender from Mithi, the district headquarters of Tharparkar, says that child marriage is not a religious matter. She says there is no evidence of its practice or endorsement in Hinduism’s religious books, including Shrimad Bhagwat Geeta, Ramayana, Purans and Shashtars.’ She says it is a cultural and social issue.

She adds that in Tharparkar, with over 2,500 remote villages, a majority of cases originate from underdeveloped areas. In cities, where children attend school and the families are financially more stable, the awareness of the consequences of child marriage prevents such practices. However, in rural communities, parents fear exposure, as the safety of their growing daughters in the fields becomes a concern, leading them to perceive daughters as a burden.

As an activist, Pushpa Kumari is actively engaged in Tharparkar, using advocacy and campaigns to combat child marriage. She has organised numerous sessions and lectures in various areas to mobilise communities, parents and children, making them aware of the challenges associated with child marriage. She says that some parents are reluctant to send their girls to school due to resource constraints, believing that investing in girls does not yield returns. They anticipate financial support from their sons in the future, viewing girls as a burden.

The writer is a multimedia journalist based in Hyderabad, Sindh. His X handle: @MathraniSanjai. He can be reached at smmathrani1@gmail.com