An intermediate first year girl student becomes an inspiration to many other with her daring move. A 16-year-old girl from Mandipeta village of Palamaner mandal in Chittoor district approached the police ask them to foiling of her marriage with a 26 year old youth.
The Palamaner police and the Rural Organization for Poverty Eradication Services (ROPES), a Chittoor-based NGO, had jointly rescued the girl and took steps for her rehabilitation. A 45-year-old man, Bujjodu is working in brick units. Due to the financial instability, he had been forcing his daughter (16) to drop her studies for the last couple of years; she could pass her Class X and joined Intermediate at Palamaner.
The liquor addicted father took ₹ 50,000 from one Chowtappa (26), the owner of brick unit and promising him that he would give his daughter in marriage to him. As the youth kept forcing, Bujjodu confined the girl at home since a week, and performed the engagement function at Mandipeta and fix the marriage muhuratham on November 10. When the girl refused to participate in the function, her father had reportedly beaten her and threatened to confine her again.
In this backdrop, the girl could escape from the village immediately after the engagement event and contacted the ROPES Child Line 1098. The women and juvenile wing team rushed to Mandipeta village and brought the parents of both sides along with bridegroom to the Palamaner Police Station. The police assured the girl that she would be accommodated at government hostel in case of any further harassment from her father.