Women's Day: Sports at Maha village school curbing early marriages

The introduction of athletics at a village school in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district has played a major role in ensuring girls there are not married at an an early age, officials said on the occasion of International Women's Day.

Jay Hind School, in Babhulgaon village in Vaijapur tehsil, some 80 kilometres from the district headquarters, has girl students taking part and winning marathon and cross country competitions, which has made their parents think of a career in sports for them, a school functionary said.

Police Sub Inspector Priyanka Tupe, an alumnus of the school, said sports is also seen by many parents as a route to a good government job.

"Babhulgaon has 3500 people and around a decade ago, parents used to get girls married by the time they were 15. We introduced sports and several girls started winning running competitions. That began the story of change in this village," said the school's sports teacher Satish Patil.

"While travelling for sports competitions, we found so many women government officials and felt we too could get such jobs if we did well in sports. I have won competitions from 2008 to 2011. I am 26, unmarried and pursuing a career," said PSI Tupe, now posted in Jalna district.

Former sarpanch of Babhulgaon, Annabhau Gaikwad, said parents earlier started looking for a match once their girls became teenagers.

"Now with sports, these girls have got exposure and the opportunity to pursue careers. They are on an equal footing with men in the village," Gaikwad said.

Sports teacher Patil pointed out with pride that of the 40 people who practice daily here, 31 are girls.

"I have interacted with parents and students of this village. They give equal importance to studies as well as sports. Babhulgaon is an example that other villages can follow," District Sports Officer Ashok Giri rounded off.