Naharlagun: In a welcoming news, the Arunachal Women Helpline-181 (WHL-181) run by the Oju Welfare Association (OWA) here has managed to rescue a victim of child marriage.
According to the WHL-181, the victim was married off to a man in Sangram of Kurung Kumey district at a tender age of around 13 years.
The victim was studying in Class 3 at that time. After her marriage, she was forced to live with her husband and soon gave birth to a baby boy. The actual problem started after her husband started to mentally and physically assault her every day without any reason.
Unable to bear the daily torture, the victim finally decided to run away.
On May 14, 2021, with the excuse of going to farming, she sneaked and ran off barefoot from the field leaving all her belongings behind. She stayed in the forest for an entire night and the next day, she went down to the main road and asked the passing vehicles for a lift. She finally managed to come across a Samaritan who later brought her to Naharlagun.
After spending a few months in Naharlagun, one of her friends suggested she visit the WHL-181 office for aid and assistance. She accordingly did so.
The WHL-181 quickly intervened in the matter, providing the victim protection, counseling, and proper shelter at Swadhar Greh (Short Stay Home) run by the Oju Welfare Association (OWA).
The case was then forwarded to Arunachal Pradesh State Legal Service Authority (APSLSA), where the matter was taken up by a Legal Aid Counsel.
In the meantime, the victim’s husband and parents had filed a missing complaint at the Sangram police station.
The victim’s parents and her cousins were later called to the WHL-181 where the sufferer expressed that she wanted to be free from her husband and wanted to file a divorce.
Following proper counseling, both the victim and her husband agreed to move on with a mutual divorce.
Presently, the victim and her husband are legally divorced and the former lives with her parents in Sangram. During her stay at OWA, the victim underwent various vocational training and earned a good amount of money through weaving and tailoring.
She is living a prosperous life now without any grievances.
The WHL-181 has thanked the APSLSA and Sangram police for guiding, helping, and providing lawful justice to vulnerable women and children.
The WHL-181 is a 24-hour confidential service for women and child survivors and victims of any form of violence including domestic and intimate partner.
The Arunachal WHL has managed to solve a total of 1188 out the 1285 registered cases between 2016 and 2022.
Those in need can reach the WHL team through the toll-free number 181 and 036023503770 or WhatsApp @ 94368522220.
Also read: Importance of ‘LGBTQ+ visibility’ highlighted in AP Queer Station meet
