Hyderabad: A woman who became a victim of child marriages twice is now fighting against injustice in her third marriage.
Jogu Tabitha of Tadipatri village in Ranga Reddy district, got married for the first time after completing SSC when she was 14. She soon realised that her husband wanted only a servant in his home at Devarakonda in Nalgonda district. He was also married.
“I used to wake up at 4 am and work the entire day. My parents ended the match in a month. I was a bonded labourer, not a wife,” she said.
She continued her studies but after Intermediate, her parents forced her to marry a second time, at the age of 17, to one Yadaiah of Mahbubnagar district.
“He was an alcoholic. I stayed with him for three months. He used to roam during the day and would be brought home unconscious. He would wake up in the afternoon and begin beating me,” Tabitha said.
Mantri Srikanth, a relative who had helped her when her second marriage broke up, was her third husband. She was 21 years old and had completed a three-year diploma course.
Life went on smoothly till Tabitha gave birth to a girl five months ago. “When I was in hospital, no one visited. My in-laws are doubting my baby’s paternity.”
Her parents also kicked her out as she had given birth to a girl. She wanted to get back with her husband and so filed a complaint with Yacharam police on October 4.
“I am fighting for justice. I won’t stop,” declares a gutsy Tabitha. The police did not take action on her complaint immediately, until some NGOs called at around 11 pm, when she was told to go home.
The police finally filed a case (crime number 198/2016) under sections 498 (a), 496, 417, 419, 420, 323, 504 and 34.
Tabitha's cruel story came to light when she was forced to camp on the roadside with her baby. She was noticed by the public who WhatsApped her photo.
P. Annapurna, an HC advocate, saw the picture. “Immediately, I called Tabitha and got her to our house. I will assist her legally. The Child Protection Commission and some NGOs are supporting her her fight with in-laws,” Ms Annapurna said.
Tabitha's father Jogu Ramulu is a labourer and her mother J. Amrutha works as a cook. They say they cannot help their daughter. Tabitha is now asking parents in rural areas not to marry off their children till the legal age.
Tabitha determined to educate her daughter
Though very young when she was married off twice, and experiencing two horrible marriages, Tabitha continued her education.
She passed SSC in the second division and then her Intermediate (B.P.C) with 70.7 per cent marks.
She earned a distinction in the three-year Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology (DMLT).
Aiming to get into medicine, she attempted Eamcet in the SC category. Unfortun-ately, there were no seats in government institutions. So she was forced to join the DMLT course.
In May this year she attempted the written test for constables and passed. But she could not appear for further exams after giving birth to her daughter.
“I'll do any job connecetd with nursing or in a medical shop. I have experience working in a medical shop in Koti for a few months. I’ll take care of my daughter and will not commit the same mistake my parents did with me. I'll give my child a better life,” said Tabitha who battled adversity bravely and deserves a better, brighter future.
