Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bajura (Agenzia Fides) - The district of Bajura is located 900 km west of Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. Here there are some of the most remote villages with the highest number of development problems in the Country. Among these is the widespread phenomenon of child marriage, in particular because of poverty. It represents one of the opportunities for many adolescents who have few prospects in life, apart from hard work and hunger. Out of 27 million 800 thousand inhabitants, 24% live below the poverty line in Nepal.
According to a study in 2013, carried out by the organization Plan International Asia and the International Center for Research on Women, 41% of Nepalese women between 20 and 24 years of age got married before reaching legal age. The statistics highlight that Nepal is one of 10 countries where there is the highest rate of early marriages. In South Asia, there is 42% of child brides worldwide. Nepal is in third place after Bangladesh and India. Problems that contribute to this phenomenon are economic, social and religious.
To combat the problem, a group of young people gathered in the Club Infantile in Jyalpa, in the municipality of Badi Mallika, is pursuing a number of initiatives. Currently also 84 schools in Bajura and neighboring districts in Kalikot, Accham and Mugu have joined the initiative. Although they are small, each club helps to combat the practice. In the last 5 years the rate of child marriage has decreased by 20%. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 16/03/2015)
