Khairbona Tole of Dhanusha has been officially declared a child marriage–free zone

Janakpurdham
Khairbona Tole in Ward No. 12 of Sabaila Municipality has officially declared a child marriage–free zone on last Saturday. The declaration was made during a formal program, marking a significant step toward ensuring children’s rights. The initiative aligns with the Government of Nepal’s goal to eliminate child marriage by 2030, and Sabaila Municipality has been actively running campaigns to achieve this target.
With the partnership of Plan International Nepal and facilitation by Janaki women Awareness Society(JWAS) Dhanusha “Empowered Girls Project” has been working for the past two years to reduce child marriage in the area. As part of the campaign, activities such as household surveys, door-to-door outreach, collection of commitments, and awareness programs have been conducted for the past three years.
The program was attended by the Chief Administrative Officer of Sabaila Municipality, Ramdev Yadav, as the chief guest. Other attendees included the chairperson of JWAS Manda Kumari Karn, Child Welfare Officer Gita Kumari Mahato, ward chairs, ward members, youth clubs, child clubs, municipal and ward-level child rights committees, and a large number of local residents.
Addressing the program, Chief Administrative Officer Yadav stated that the municipality would continue to provide strong support and leadership for programs focused on children’s issues. He described the declaration as an initial achievement and emphasized the need for continuous monitoring and regulation in the coming days.
During the event, local girls performed cultural dances and songs, showcasing their traditions. Ward Chair Ramnarayan Adhikari expressed happiness over Khairbona’s achievement, calling it a historic milestone and a model example for other communities.
This initiative from Khairbona Tole sends a strong message about the power of community-level efforts in reducing child marriage and promoting children’s rights.