SARLAHI: Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR), Rubi Kumari Thakur, has reaffirmed her commitment to continue fighting against the deeply rooted harmful practices of dowry and child marriage, mostly prevalent in the Madhesh region.

Speaking at a programme organized here on Sunday by the Chandranagar Rural Municipality in Sarlahi district on the elimination of child marriage and dowry practice, Deputy Speaker Thakur stated that such harmful traditions must be eradicated not only from Madhesh but from the entire country.

Thakur observed that gender-based discrimination and the perception of daughters as a burden continue to encourage the harmful practice of child marriage in the society.

The Deputy Speaker mentioned, “People should not be saddened by the birth of a daughter, thinking additional burden has fallen on the household. In the land of Mother Sita, the birth of a daughter is a matter of pride and fortune.”

She argued that dowry and child marriage often lead to family breakdowns after marriage.

Referring to the growing trend of teenagers leaving home, she urged young people not to rebel against parental guidance without understanding their genuine concerns and advices.

Likewise, parliamentarian Nitima Karki, elected from Sarlahi-1, noted that the practices of dowry and child marriage have persisted in Madhesh region for decades without significant change.

She highlighted the importance of education, stating that it is the only ‘effective tool’ to eliminate such social evils and encouraged families to prioritize educating daughters.

The event was attended by vice-chairpersons and deputy mayors of various local governments across the Madhesh Province.

During the programme, parents who educated their daughters up to Grade 12 and arranged marriage only after the age of 20, parents supporting daughters-in-law in higher education and couples who married without dowry were honoured with shawls and certificates.

To help reduce child marriage, the Chandranagar Rural Municipality has introduced incentive programmes that provide Rs. 50,000 to women who consider marrying after the age of 20.

The Municipality also offers a lump-sum educational support of Rs. 11,000 to girls studying up to Grade 12 to encourage continued education.