Real life Balika Vadhu moves court, married at 10 months age

Jodhpur, April 10: Married off at the tender age of 10 months, Urma Bishnoi had to tolerate the tortures of being in a child marriage for 18 years. Bishnoi is from Kaparda village of Jodhpur. In 1999, she was married off to a boy of the same village. As she grew up, she refused to accept the marriage. But her in-laws started pressurising her and her family to accept the relationship.

"I do not accept the marriage. I want to study and make my future," Urma, now 19, said.

Meanwhile, Bishnoi learnt about a child marriage annulment campaign being run by Kriti Bharti, managing trustee and rehabilitation psychologist, Saarthi Trust Jodhpur. She contacted Bharti for annulment of her child marriage and filed a plea in the family court-1 of Jodhpur.

"With the help of Kriti didi, I have filed the case. I am hopeful of getting justice soon," she said, adding earlier she was "frightened with the regular threats by my so-called in-laws"."But now I am confident and look forward to the start of a fresh life where I can study and make a future of my own."