Surekha, a thirteen years old girl once decided to commit suicide as her dreams of pursuing education and becoming a teacher shattered while her parents decided to get her married. Then she was just studying 8th standard. The day when her parents commandingly told her nothing doing than getting ready for the marriage, she had nobody left to convince her parents about her desire and ambition of studying further. That evening she came alone to the pond at the outskirt of her village, sat on the bank desperately, cried aloud and convinced herself committing suicide is a better option than dying each day after getting married at that early age. She had witnessed several girls in her village suffering exploitation in many forms. However, at that moment she also had a hope to convince once again her parents to cancel the idea of marriage. She returned her home. Now a few more neighboring women joined her parents in convincing Surekha for a dire need of getting married. She had left with no option as there were nobody to support her idea. Eventually she nodded her head for marriage.
Surekha is the elder child to her parents. The family had four more daughters. As any other parents in the village, her parents concern too was nothing else than to dispose their daughters in marriage as soon they getting eligible for marriage. For them thirteen years is very right age for a girl child to become a bride. Adding to her agony, the person whom they decided to get her married was none but her own maternal uncle. Surekha had dislike for him from the very childhood. Surekha’s marriage was formalized three years ago. She is 16 years of age now. She was given in marriage to Hanumanatti village of Bailhongal taluk. This village is situated on the Belgaum Bagalkote highway about 25 kms away from Belgaum. Her husband, Vittal Goudar is a part time Driver. Goes on work driving medium goods vehicle. Whenever, he does not find work goes for coolie work as well. They have no agriculture land.
Like most of the early married girls suffer agonies, Surkha also not an exception to this. She had to work days and nights at home. She had taken the responsibilities of managing household work, look after her in-laws (who are also her grandparents). The entire responsibility of taking care of household work, her in-laws, brother-in-laws and their wives fall on Surekha. Vittal Gouder has not enough taking care of Surekha. She had no freedom at home. Ever since her marriage she fell sick almost each day. She was diagnosed for Dengue when she was pregnant first time. The Dengue caused delivery of a still baby before she attained 14 years of age. All these caused acute anaemia in her. Despite her illness, she had to undergo mental torture at home. Her in-laws and husband started ill-treating Surekha. Within a year she gave birth to a girl child and later for one more girl child. Now she become mother of two girls before her completing 16th year. Both these cases were caesarean deliveries. The family pressure, work tensions, looking after children and household and her illness eventually caused depression in Surekha. She lost enthusiasm and happiness in life. She had no control over anything even on herself. She was sitting along on days and nights and crying for her fate.
SEVAK had included the village Hanumanatti in the IMAGE K project, which has been initiated to cater the social, health, education and livelihood needs of the Early Married Girls. Surekha came to the contact of project team. As she required special attention, the Counsellor Mrs. Lata Lobo took her for confidence and made friendship with her. She voiced out her concerns. Lata spoke to her in-laws and husband and succeeded in convincing them her issues. As a result they allowed her to take part in the project activities. Her husband took her for medical treatment. Now she could associate with other girls in the village and surrounding with similar concerns. She had shown her interest to undergo Beautician course. IMAGE K project made provision for pursuing beautician course by deputing her to a center and paid her fees.
Now Surekha has completed her course and set up her own enterprise. The girls and women from the village come to Surekha for their personal beauty care. After completing her house hold work, during free time she earns around Rs. 200/= per day. She feels extremely happy for her changed fate. She is confident and become contact point for IMAGE K project team in her village. She humbly says – “I had once thought of committing suicide and suffered death each day after my marriage. But now regained life in fullness because of the introduction of IMAGE K. I have been most fortunate for IMAGE K selecting my village. I try my best to propagate message for everyone not to marry girls before proper age”.