Baripada: What could be more disheartening when a Class 8 girl is forced to run away from her home and seek district administration's help to escape marriage.
"I want to study. But my family members are forcing me to get married," said the minor girl when she sought help from the district administration to cancel her marriage.
The marriage of the girl who hails from Gangaraj village under Kuliana police station of Mayurbhanj district was scheduled to be solemnized today.
According to sources, the minor girl, who belongs to a poor family, escaped from her house last night as her mother had fixed her marriage with a youth of Bangiriposi area in the absence of her father.
After leaving her house, the girl brought the matter to the notice of her school teacher, who later informed police and Child Line officials about the same through the local Sarpanch. Later, the girl refused to return to her house and approached the district administration to help her, sources added.
District Child Protection Officer Mamata Biswal said, "She does not want to get married. We rescued her soon after receiving information. Steps are afoot to make arrangements for her study and accommodation."