Become a Wife to get fed, they said; She committed herself to books instead

I set out to meet Mona Roy that day. It was late afternoon so I was hoping I would get a chance to meet her too and not just her mother. Usually students are away for school or college and the only way I get a sense of who they are from their parents. Mostly their mothers. However I was lucky to see Mona and her mother waiting for us. With a glass of water and few biscuits, we all sat down to know more about Mona’s year of boards. 

Mona is the second eldest daughter of the Roy family. Both her parents have never been to school. Relying on agricultural income all their lives, the family has seen some really nasty days without food to eat and a place to stay. The temporary make shift arrangement could not keep them off the heavy monsoons in West Bengal. Struggling to make ends meet, Mona’s parents married her elder sister at a young age of 14. Ask her why, and she said,”We were in so much trouble. Marrying her at least guaranteed she would get two square meals a day. I have been trying to convince this one (Mona), but she just would not listen.” 

Such is the reality of many girls in this region. Married off because parents are too poor to raise them. Married to young boys who also have dropped out. And there it starts, another generation making a living of daily wages. But neither is it easy for these girls to take a stand and demand parents to invest in their education. With parents earning Rs. 200-300 a day, how can a daughter ask for Rs. 900 a month for school and private tuition fees. 

But then there are girls like Mona, who are making it happen. She knew there was more to her than getting married at 16 to be fed and sheltered well. Despite repeated attempts by her parents to marry her off too, she chose to never drop out from school. But she knew she needed help of a private tutor if she wanted to pass the crucial 12th boards. With the help of the credit officer of BJS (field partner ) who visited their area for weekly collections, she got them to convince her to apply for a education loan of Rs. 8000. She used the loan amount to enroll for only Sanskrit, History and Political Science classes. She studied the other subjects by herself. 

As for the repayments, she would work in paddy fields and bathe cattle for daily wages. “I have 2 months of vacation now. I know I can save more doing a variety of petty jobs and repay the rest of the installments. A good degree is all I need and this misery would come to an end.” There is no stopping a girl who is determined to free herself from the shackles of early marriage.