Rinku Thakur turned her fight against child marriage into a mission
Summary
Rinku Thakur has turned her defiance of an arranged child marriage into a campaign against child marriage, dowry violence, and gender-based abuse in Madhesh province. Working with Protection Nepal in Rautahat, she visits villages and schools to raise awareness about girls’ rights, nutrition, and reproductive health.
Key Points
- Rinku Thakur rejected an arranged marriage at 17 and left her home in Birgunj, later dedicating her life to campaigning against child marriage and dowry-related violence.
- She now works with Protection Nepal in Rautahat district, visiting villages and schools to educate women and girls about legal rights, nutrition, reproductive health, cybercrime, and gender-based violence.
- Police records cited in the story show 2,531 suicides in Madhesh province between FY 2023-24 and 2024-25, with women and girls accounting for more than half.
- Local police and activists say poverty, illiteracy, dowry pressure, and social norms continue to drive child marriage in Madhesh.
