Kolkata: A group of NGOs working in the districts of Bengal decided to use this year’s Durga Puja as a platform to develop ways to report missing children and women promptly.
In one such intervention, Shakti Vahini, a ‘Child Marriage Free India’ partner, received information regarding a missing 17-year-old girl who was allegedly kidnapped from Deganga in North 24 Parganas.
A team was swiftly formed to rescue her and they traced the kidnapper’s location to Jharkhand.
Upon investigation, the team had learnt that the girl was being taken to Maharashtra, after which they provided this intel to the Railway Protection Forces. After a search operation that continued throughout the night, the girl was rescued from the Howrah-Mumbai Express at Bhulsawar railway station. The custody of the girl was handed over to the local police.
“As part of a special initiative launched by Child Marriage Free India partners — Kosi Lok Manch, Shakti Vahini and BAPU, Durga Puja celebrations had an added significance this year. The vibrantly decorated puja pandals across the state — East and West Midnapore, North and South Parganas and Jalpaiguri — witnessed women leveraging the festive atmosphere to highlight negative impacts of child marriage and mobilized local communities to raise their voice against it. We are glad to make a positive impact ,” said Rishikant of Shakti Vahani.