Generating awareness on the ills of early marriage

Rishilpi, an Italian NGO, based at Binerpota village in Sadar upazila, is continuing with the innovative cultural programme to generate awareness among the people to confront early marriage and dowry.
The NGO has been organising several cultural programmes featuring plays, folk songs (baul and jari songs), dance and more since 1998 to generate awareness among the people on the ill effects of early marriage and dowry.
Vowing to eradicate early marriage and dowry from the society and also to educate the people in rural areas where the rate of early marriage is very high, the NGO Rishilpi, launched the programme under the banner of "Amar Sonar Poribar".
The artistes of "Amar Sonar Poribar" staged a play titled "Shesh Parinati" on July 13, on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the organisation at its auditorium.
The play depicted how early marriage and dowry not only devastates the lives of adolescent girls but also their families -- at times claiming the lives of teenage wives.
The cast of the play included Padma Rani Mallik, Fatema Khatun, Chandra Rani, Anjali Rani Mondal, Nasrin Begum, Rahima Khatun, Rita Rani Sarkar, Bhagabati Rani, Joyosree Rani and Anju.
The NGO plans to arrange similar programmes at several venues, in particular in the rural areas, and will also arrange motivational programmes and rallies throughout the year.