Efforts of few Girls in Phulwar village of Patna have impressed The Elders, a visiting group of world leaders led by Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Elders is a group of independent global leaders brought together by former South African president Nelson Mandela — to create awareness on the ills of child marriage.
Tutu was also impressed by the political will being shown by the Bihar CM to end discrimination prevalent in the society against the girl child
“It was a positive sign that girls were against child marriage as they understood the risks of getting married before adulthood and boys were also not ready to support child marriage,” said Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Norway prime minister and director general of WHO, after visiting Phulwar village in Patna district.
Tutu, along with former Irish president and UN high commissioner for human rights, Mary Robinson, and Gandhian social activist Ela Bhatt, interacted with 20 young boys and girls at the village.
Robinson pointed out that another important element was the rising trend of education among girls. “Most of the girls told members of The Elders that they were eager to pursue studies and wanted to join college before marriage,” she said.