Even in the 21st century, child marriage is still a harsh reality in the rural regions of India. Young girls are forced into marriage and are burdened with immense responsibilities at a tender age. However, today, we have an inspiring story of resilience to share. A young girl from Andhra Pradesh bravely fought for her right to education and has now emerged as the top scorer in the first-year intermediate board examinations in the state. 

A bright student

S Nirmala, a resident of Pedda Harivanam in Kurnool district, has been passionate about studies since childhood. She secured 537 out of 600 marks in her class 10 exams. Recently, she achieved an outstanding score of 421 out of 440 marks in her Inter board exams. 

Child marriage

S Nirmala is the youngest among her three sisters. Her parents, hailing from an underprivileged background, married off the first three daughters in their teenage years. They planned to follow the same tradition for S Nirmala. 

Nirmala’s parents highlighted their difficulties in supporting her further education. They tried to convince her to discontinue her studies saying it would be difficult for her to attend classes at junior college away from home. However, Nirmala remained committed to persevering in the face of adversity.  

Seeking help

Nirmala sought help from local legislator Y Saiprasad Reddy during an outreach programme last year. Adoni MLA, touched by her story, informed the collector G Srujana to assist Nirmala in achieving her dreams. The district administration helped her secure admission to Kasturba Gandhi Balikala Vidyalaya at Aspari. 

IPS dreams

She showed her determination for education by securing the highest marks in her first year intermediate exams. She mentions that she aspires to become an IPS officer in her life to abolish child marriage and to empower young girls to help them pursue their dreams.