Marriage of teenage girl annulled in Rajasthan

A 17-year-old girl who was married off at the age of three years has got what she was praying for--annulment of her marriage.
The girl was married off to an 11-year-old boy in 2003 following pressure by the community members.
After the death of her father, the girl's in-laws, along with community leaders, started pressuring her mother to send her to her husband's house but the teenager was unwilling.
She then came into contact with the Saarthi Trust and moved an application in the family court for the annulment of her marriage in June.
"After talking to her, I contacted her in-laws and husband, now 25 years old, for counseling. In the beginning they were not cooperative but then they agreed to end the illegal marriage," managing trustee Kriti Bharti said.

The marriage was finally annulled by a family court today, Bharti said.

The girl, who belongs to a financially weak family, was studying in a school but after pressure started building from her in laws, she had to discontinue her studies.
She said she would now continue her studies with the help of the trust.
"We got her enrolled for secondary examination from open school system and are providing all assistance to her," said Bharti.
Her mother, Dhapu Devi, expressed happiness on the annulment.
With tears of joy in her eyes, Devi said she would not marry her daughter off against her wish and let her complete her education.