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Football Sisters Defy Child Marriage in Rajasthan
23 Feb
Summary
- Sisters Nisha and Munna used football to resist child marriage proposals.
- Football for Freedom helps girls delay marriage and find livelihoods.
- Rajasthan has some of the highest child marriage rates in India.
In Padampura village, Rajasthan, sisters Nisha and Munna found an unexpected path away from child marriage through football. Introduced to the sport by the non-profit Football for Freedom, which aims to improve girls' livelihoods, they defied societal norms. Munna championed change, wearing shorts for tournaments despite village criticism, and Nisha followed, even cutting her hair short, a sign of femininity and custom.
When marriage proposals arose, Nisha, now 15, asserted her dedication to football and her career aspirations. The sisters also rejected a joint proposal in 2025. Their mother, Laali, a former child bride, explained families fear 'bad influences' if girls aren't married young. Football for Freedom, part of Mahila Jan Adhikar Samiti, has helped 72 girls delay marriage since its 2016 inception.
Padma Joshi from the organization highlights risks like early pregnancy and poor health associated with child marriage. Football for Freedom has trained 800 girls across 13 Rajasthan villages, emphasizing sports as a route to jobs and financial independence. Despite UNICEF reporting 1.5 million child marriages annually in India, Nisha and Munna are rewriting expectations, one goal at a time.
