21 May, Rolpa: The Women and Children’s Office, Rolpa has launched girls’ education programme to minimize the threat of widespread practices of child marriages in the district.

The programme aims to bring back the children who were forced to drop out of school after getting married off and to engage the children in skill-based income generating activities until they reach the ripe age.

The rate of child marriages in Rolpa is the highest in the entire country, and there have been various programmes introduced by different governmental and non-governmental organizations to tackle the unremitting practices, according to the Women and Children’s Office, Rolpa.

The girls’ education programme has been introduced under the supervision of the children’s office in Rolpa and under financial backing from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

UNFPA representative, Purna Bahadur Bishwokarma, said the programme is being launched for minimizing child marriage practices and to end gender violence through girls’ socio-economic empowerment.

Most of the underage girls in the district have been the victims of child marriage practices and they are in need to be made aware of this, said Tirtha Acharya, a facilitator.

The programme – which will straddle the Khangri, Khumel, Kotgaun, Rankot, Ransi, Dubidanda and Liwang villages – targets the girls of 13 – 19 age group. RSS