On Wednesday, an inter-school spot painting competition themed ‘Stop Child Marriage’ was organized by the Manipur State Legal Services Authority, the District Legal Services Authority of Thoubal, and the Legal Aid Clinic at Little Star English Hr. Secondary School, Thoubal Haokha. The event saw participation from 138 students ranging from Class VI to X across various schools. Laishram Ocin Devi from Little Star English Hr. Secondary School won first place, with Mutum Pushparani Devi from Changkhonba Institute and Macdonald Yumnam from Little Star English Hr. Secondary School following in second and third places, respectively. They were awarded cash prizes of Rs. 2000, Rs. 1500, and Rs. 1000, along with certificates. Additionally, students finishing in the 4th to 8th positions received consolation prizes of Rs. 200 and certificates, while all participants were awarded participation certificates.
Thingujam Arunkumar Singh, Coordinator of the Legal Aid Clinic, emphasized that child marriage, particularly affecting underage girls, constitutes a form of abuse. The competition is part of a larger initiative aimed at eradicating child marriage in India, encouraging young people to express their talents and raising awareness about the issue. The event is designed to bolster creativity, skills, and understanding among students regarding the serious implications of child marriage. Furthermore, a legal awareness program on the ‘Prohibition of Child Marriage Act-2006’ was conducted, led by Advocate Thokchom Bishworjit Singh, who provided insights on the topic and facilitated an interactive discussion with the students.
