BAITADI: As many as 13 early marriages have been stopped thanks to initiatives of teenage girls in Baitadi district of far-western Nepal in past eight months. Women's Development Officer Anita Budha Air of the District Women and Childre's Office informed that teenage girls' groups in 16 VDCs of the district were active to stop such mispractices. The DWCO, in association with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), had taken initiatives to form such groups. The UNFPA District Programme Officer Ganesh Shahi said the number of child marriages was significantly dropped due to such groups. It, however, has not completely controlled, he commented. 'It is challenging to control early marriages all of sudden as it is rooted in traditions,' he said, 'Mostly, such practice is present in families which have more daughters, are financially weak and belong to the Dalit community.' He added that the wishes of some children to marry off at an early age by themselves had also posed more threats to the combatting efforts.