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Mumbai Girls Become 'Girl Singhams' Protecting Slums
24 Jan
Summary
- Adolescent girls act as community protectors in Mumbai slums.
- They have successfully averted six child marriages recently.
- Girls reclaimed unsafe public spaces like a neglected maidan.
In Mumbai's Cheetah Camp and Sathe Nagar, young girls are undertaking a nightly vigil, acting as community protectors. These 'Girl Singhams,' comprising over 1,200 girls aged 11 to 18, have been actively transforming their neighborhoods for the past four years. Child rights organization CRY supports their initiatives aimed at improving education, health, safety, and combating child labor and marriage.
Led by figures like 16-year-old Simran Shaikh, these groups educate communities on the harms of early marriage. Their dedicated efforts have successfully averted six child marriages in recent months, allowing the girls involved to return to school. Salma, a member, shared how the group's intervention prevented her own early marriage and encouraged her to continue her education.
The 'Girl Singhams' have also tackled unsafe public spaces and illegal activities. They organized to improve Karbala Maidan, a neglected open area, by laying soil, refurbishing streetlights, and installing CCTV cameras. Furthermore, they successfully petitioned to close an illegal liquor shop that had made a local lane unsafe, demonstrating their confidence and assertiveness.
