SOUTH
Two 16-year old girls were saved from the clutches of child marriage and abuse and as a mark of respect for this gesture, they have aced their intermediate exams. Belonging to Hayathnagar, the two girls were secretly being married off against their wishes last year until social activists intervened. This move not only secured their future as children, but also paid off in a different way.
Both the girls- K Sandhya and V Sandhya secured 92% and 88% marks respectively in their CEC exams. Both of them are studying in the same class at NRI Junior College in Vanasthalipuram. They also studied together in St Joseph's school in Turkayamjal, Hayatnagar.
Incidentally, V Sandhya's engagement ceremony was arranged on the very day of her social science paper in SSC exams. A hesitant Sandhya had discussed this with her friends who informed their teacher about the incident, who in turn, alerted a child right's organisation- Balala Hakkula Sangham. The activists intervened the ceremony at the nick of time and convinced the groom's party that marrying an underage girl was a serious offence.
Despite several hurdles, which included her father committing suicide, V Sandhya's tenacity for education drove her to such an amazing fete. However, that was not possible without the intervention of her teachers and the child right activists. In fact, the Ranga Reddy Collector was also applauded for his quick response on being intimated about the incident.