This is how 2 Jharkhand girls stopped each other from becoming the next Balika Vadhus

In February, this year, 14-year-old Mali was at her school as usual in Punsa village, about 25 km from Jamshedpur, in Jharkhand. It was like any other day, until her sister came to fetch her. She was asked to return home immediately. When she reached home, Mali found her parents entertaining a few guests. Her mother then asked her to serve tea. After they left, Mali was told that she would soon get married. This broke her heart.

A student of class eight, she rushed to tell this news to her friend Sarita. A year older to Mali, Sarita did some quick thinking and went up to their teacher Pradeep Kumar for help. What happened next was truly exciting. Kumar, along with Sarita and few of their friends went to Mali's house to meet her parents.

The told her parents that child marriage is a punishable offence and by making Mali quit school to get married they would be ruining her childhood. They also explained the health risks of an early marriage and pregnancy. This information and some major convincing deterred Mali's parents from getting her married.

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A few weeks later, a similar incident happened with Sarita. She somehow found out that her parents were planning to get her married. This time, she asked Mali for help. Mali along with Kumar and her friends went to Sarita's house. There they spoke to her elder brother Vibhishan. They explained to him if he allowed his sister to get married after she turned 18, it would multiply her chances of finding a better groom. Also, she would become biologically fit to become a mother. Vibhishan spoke to his parents about it and they cancelled the wedding.

And this is how two young girls were saved from becoming victims of child marriage in Jharkhand.

"In a state with the highest child marriage rate in India after Rajasthan and Bihar, according to Annual Health Survey, 2010-2011, and where child marriage among girls is as high as 44 per cent in rural areas and 21 per cent in urban centres, as National Family Health Survey 2015-2016 reported, it is a huge victory," states a report published in the Indian Express.

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Child marriages not only stall the emotional growth of young girls, but it's a great risk to their health too. According to a report by UNICEF, "babies of child brides are 60 per cent more likely to die before their first birthday than children of mothers who are over 19 years. Married girls aged 15-19 years are twice more likely to die during childbirth."

Despite constant campaigns, initiatives, and awareness programs, child marriage is one social evil that just refuses to die. However, thanks to young and brave girls like Sarita and Mali, slow yet steady changes are on the way.