This week, on MISSING, we delve into the problem of child marriage in India. We are joined by development professional and child rights activist Bharti Ali, the co-founder and currently Executive Director of HAQ: Centre for Child Rights, who has been working on issues concerning gender and child rights for over 29 years, and Baitali Ganguly, a founder member of Jabala Action Research Organisation, an NGO based in Kolkata that rescues and rehabilitates survivors of trafficking. They give us an extensive overview and an on-ground look at child marriage, how these weddings actually take place despite being illegal, and how it can enable insidious crimes like trafficking and sexual exploitation. They also discuss the push to raise the legal age of marriage from 18 to 21 and solutions to this deeply entrenched issue.

Trigger Warning: Please note, this episode contains themes and depictions of human trafficking that may be disturbing to listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

If you or someone you know needs help, resources and more information about the work of the Missing Link Trust are available at www.savemissinggirls.com. Get in touch with them by sending an email to reachus@savemissinggirls.com. And follow the Missing Link Trust on Instagram & Twitter @missingirls.

CREDITS:

A podcast series by the Missing Link Trust

Host and Executive Producer: Leena Kejriwal

Opening Story Narrated by Roshan Abbas

Writers: Baisali C Dutta, Niranjana Sivaram, Devleena Chakraborty & Husein Haveliwala

This is a Maed in India production.

Audio Engineer & Editor - Kartik Kulkarni

Producer - Mae Mariyam Thomas

Assistant Producer - Husein Haveliwala

Show Artwork - Alika Gupta

Episode Artwork - Bhaswati Bose