Married at the the age of 4 months, suffered the brunt of child marriage for 20 years, got freedom with the help of Saarthi

Jodhpur. Anita, who was trapped in the shackles of child marriage at the age of just four months, after suffering for almost 20 years, finally got freedom from child marriage with the support of Dr. Kriti Bharti, Rehabilitation Psychologist and Managing Trustee of Saarthi Trust. Judge Varun Talwar of Jodhpur's Family Court No. 2 gave a historic decision to annul Anita's child marriage. Due to the efforts of Dr. Kriti Bharti of Saarthi Trust, perhaps for the first time, setting a unique example, the family court during its verdict in the case of annulment of child marriage, ordered to so-called husband to pay the litigation expenses to child bride. Along with this, Dr. Kriti Bharti of Saarthi Trust, by leading the campaign of annulment of child marriages, has so far got the 52 pairs of child marriages annulled.

Married at the tender age of 4 months, annulled at the age of 21
21-year-old Anita, daughter of a farmer family resident of rural area of Jodhpur district, was married as a child at the age of just 4 months. After which she continued to suffer the brunt of child marriage. Her in-laws were constantly pressurizing her to get her Gauna done and send her to her in-laws. There were also many direct and indirect threats being received.

Got support from Dr. Kriti of Saarthi, appealed in court
Meanwhile, Anita got information about the campaign of Dr. Kriti Bharti of Saarthi Trust Jodhpur of abolishing of child marriages, who is also included into the World Top 10 Activist and BBC 100 Inspirational Women list. Anita met Dr. Kriti and expressed her pain. After which Dr. Kriti filed a case for annulment of Anita's child marriage in Family Court No. 2 of Jodhpur.

Judgment to annul Anita's child marriage, the court gave a message to eradicate the evil of child marriage from the society.
Dr. Kriti Bharti advocated on Anita's behalf in the family court and made the court aware of the facts related to child marriage and age. After which Judge Varun Talwar of Family Court No. 2 gave a historic decision to annul the child marriage that took place 20 years ago when Anita was just 4 months old. Along with this, due to the efforts of Dr. Kriti of Saarthi Trust, the court has set a new example by giving a decision to the girl bride to get the expenses of the case from her so-called husband. Justice Talwar gave a strong message to the society against child marriage and said that child marriage is not only a vice but also a crime. This spoils the future of children. If the girl or boy does not want to continue the child marriage, then they have the right to cancel the child marriage. To eradicate the evil of child marriage, significant efforts are needed at the society level.

Dr. Kriti has so far annulled 52 pairs of child marriages
After annulling the country's first child marriage, Dr. Kriti Bharti, by running a continuous campaign, has till now maintained the record of getting the 52 pairs of child marriages annulled. More than 2100 child marriages have been stopped in the country. Child and women rights activist and advocate Dr. Kriti's name has been registered in 9 national and international record books. Dr. Kriti has been awarded many national and international honors including the Global Youth Human Rights Award from Geneva.

They says-
After getting Anita's child marriage annulled, better rehabilitation efforts are now being made for her. The aim of my campaign is to ensure that child marriage gets buried in the history books.
-Dr. Kriti Bharti, Rehabilitation Psychologist, Child & Women Rights Advocate and Managing Trustee Saarthi Trust, Jodhpur.

With the help of Kriti Didi, I have become free from the bondage of child marriage. Now I will stand on my feet and fulfill my dreams.
-Anita, child marriage winner.