Salboni, Nov. 15: They were married off at 15 and 16. Both girls say their parents did not care for their dreams and aspirations. Both have convinced their husbands and in-laws that they should be back in school.

The two girls in West Midnapore’s Salboni have now decided to help the district administration spread awareness against child marriage.

The 16-year-old girl, a Class XI student, said her parents forced her to marry in August.

“My parents never thought it necessary to take my opinion about marriage at such an early age. My father was a khalashi (helper) of a truck. He can no longer work because of poor health. My elder brother is unemployed. So, I believe my parents got me married in a hurry just to do their duty and get me off their back,” she said.

“They never paid any heed to my wishes, never thought that I might want to study and aspire to do something worthwhile in life. I want to stand on my own feet,” the 16-year-old said. Her husband works as a goldsmith in Mumbai and stays there most of the time.

“For a few weeks after marriage, I did household chores. Then I told my husband and in-laws that I wanted to continue studies. They are good people and allowed me to take admission in a school again,” the girl said.

She said that after she rejoined school, she realised that there were many girls who had been married off before 18.

“I thought I should do something for them. I started jotting down my thoughts and began singing them in Jhumur tunes to create awareness against child marriage,” she said.

Jhumur is a kind of folk song and dance in eastern India that describes the pleasures and pains of day-to-day life.

The 16-year-old said she started spreading awareness against child marriage by singing in schools and village squares.

Soon, a 15-year-old Class X student of her school, who too had been married off, and some classmates, joined her in her campaign.

The 15-year-old said: “My parents married me off against my wishes. They told me that as I had a younger sister, they could not delay my marriage any longer. My father is a labourer and his main concern is to get us sisters married.

“After marriage, I started missing my school. I requested my husband, a labourer, to allow me to resume classes and he agreed. I realise that not everyone is as lucky as I am. I decided to work for them and joined didi’s (the 16-year-old girl’s) Jhumur group.”

The district information and cultural affairs officer, Koushiki Nandi, met the Jhumur group yesterday and requested the girls to begin an anti-child marriage campaign.

“What these two girls and the other students of the group are doing is commendable. I want to take these girls to schools to create awareness against child marriage,” Nandi said.

Requested to sing one of her songs, the 16-year-old hummed: “Mai go mai, paye pori, kom boyeshe, bia dibi nai (Oh mother! Please don’t marry off your daughter at a tender age).”