रीताकुमारी महतो

रीताकुमारी महतो १४ वर्षकी हुँदा र कक्षा ७ मा अध्ययनरत गर्ने क्रम मा उनका आमाबुबाले विवाह गर्ने निर्णय गरेका थिए । महिनावारी सुरु हुनुअघि नै छोरी मान्छेलाइ  बिवाह गरेर पठाउने चलन थियो  । यति सानो उमेरमा बिहे गरेर रिताको जवानी खोसेर लग्यो। अविरल दहेजको नाममा सासू-ससुराबाट घरेलु हिंसा र मानसिक दुव्र्यवहारको शिकार बनिन्। वर्षौंसम्म यो दुर्व्यवहार सहेपछि रीताले भित्रबाट बल प्राप्त गरिन् र आफ्नै समुदायमा यौन हिंसा विरुद्ध आवाज उठाउन थालिन्। अहिले ४२ बर्षिय रितालाई सामाजिक कार्यकर्ताको रुपमा सम्मान गरिएको छ । जन्मस्थल लहान, सिराहामा बालविवाह, यौन हिंसा, दहेज प्रथा र सामाजिक अन्यायविरुद्ध संघर्ष गर्दै आएकी छिन् । समाजमा लोकतान्त्रिक मूल्य मान्यताको संरक्षण गरेकोमा उनलाई एम्नेस्टी इन्टरनेशनलले पनि मान्यता तथा पुरस्कार प्रदान गरेको छ ।

Rita Kumari Mahato was just 14 years old and studying in grade 7, when her parents decided to get her married. It was such a time when marrying a girl before the start of her menstrual cycle was regarded as a virtue in the society. Having married so young took away Rita’s youth as she became the victim of domestic violence and mental abuse from her in-laws in the name of insufficient dowry.

After enduring the abuse for years, Rita garnered strength from within and began raising voice against sexual violence in her own community. Now at 42, Rita is respected as a social activist, fighting against child marriage, sexual violence, dowry system and social injustice in her birthplace Lahan, Siraha. She has also been recognized and awarded Prize Per Anger by Amnesty International for protecting democratic values in society.