Biratnagar, June 22

Fourteen-year-old Dikshya BK is a celebrated campaigner working against child marriage in Morang.

A resident of Lakhantari village in Gramthan Rural Municipality, Morang, BK’s involvement in foiling child marriages started when she was studying in Grade VIII. Almost everyone in the district knows BK for her initiatives in preventing child marriage.

BK is the chairperson of Child Network, a children’s club in her ward. The ward was declared child marriage-free three months ago. BK is now waiting for her Secondary Education Examination result.

Purushottam Dahal, a local school teacher had suggested that BK join the children’s club formed in her tole, two years ago. Since then she has embarked on a crusade against child marriage. “After I joined the club I took training on child rights and child marriage,” she said. She learned about child rights issues from the training provided by non-government organisations, according to BK.

At BK’s initiative, her club has stopped eleven child marriages in Lakhantari, in the past two years. Ward No 1 Chair Namo Narayan Majhi and people’s representatives have lent support to BK for her noble cause.

Eleven children’s clubs have been formed at different wards of her village and also at Beganlal Basic School and at Birendra Secondary School.

“We are working to make parents aware about the demerits of child marriage through club activities,” said BK. Her mother is a factory worker. BK has also been taking dance classes in Biratnagar.