Devil or deep sea dilemma for Irula tribal girl in Krishnagiri

Krishnagiri: With no money for higher education, a tribal girl who earlier fought against moves to either marry her off at an early age or send her to work as child labour, has to now drop her dream of becoming a nurse.

B. Lakshmi (18), an Irula girl of the uphill Melkochavoor village in Anchetti taluk of Krishnagiri had scored 371 out of a total of 600 marks in Plus-2 examinations held during the previous academic year.

She being the elder daughter for her parents is the second tribal community girl of her place to complete school education, braving all odds in a family of nine children.

"It was not an easy task for me to complete my school education. I fought against all odds including early marriage proposals for me and plans to send me as the child labour. Above all, the sacrifice of my siblings helped me finish schooling," Lakshmi told DC with tears in her eyes. The girl added,

"Despite my parents decided to marry me off, a common practice of poor people like us, I firmly stood against their plan and continued my school education. But, as planned, the marriage took place, but the victim girl was my younger sister."

Dhanakodi, the younger one, was given in marriage when the girl was below 14-years. The girl's husband was none other than the boy who was selected for Lakshmi.

Dhanakodi's marriage took place a few years ago and the girl now has a 13-month-old female baby. The girl accepted her parents wish to save Lakshmi from marrying at a young age and to pursue her dream to become a nurse. If not Lakshmi would have been forcibly married off as others dropping out of school ,to become victims of early marriage to the girls in this region, which prevails despite district administration's efforts to stop the menace. The second person who stood in support of Lakshmi was her 14-years-old younger brother Madesh. He has studied up to eighth standard in the government school near his place and instead of going to the next level has taken a different route to support his big family.

Madesh was sent to Erode with the agents who operate here in Anchetti and Denkannikottai taluks and source children to work as cheap labour in spinning mills of western Tamil Nadu. "Giving daughters in marriage or sending children to work in spinning mills allows poor tribal families like us to reduce the family expenses because they have one less person at home to feed," Lakshmi explained why her village children dropped out of school to become child brides or turn bonded labour.  Lakshmi is waiting for someone to help for her higher education. There is no doubt that the help to her will work as the catalyst and bring positive changes in the lives not only of her relatives but also of others in her region. People interested in helping Lakshmi can contact the girl in her mobile number 94428 95722.