We were both 12 years old when we got married. My father has three wives, 12 children and lives with one wife for six months and they beg together. My husband Lingaiah’s father also has two wives with nine children and they also beg. We had no rituals for our marriage. We only held hands and tied a ‘mangalsutra’ (a thread). After marriage, I have not visited my parents even once. That is the tradition. I cook about four kilos of rice for the family and take care of all the other children who are around my age. I am now five months pregnant and feel hungry most of the time. My elders say that since many of their children were born at home, there is no need to go to the hospital. I have no Aadhaar card and so no food can be claimed from the Anganwadi centre. I was told that my entitlement to food as a pregnant woman will only be when I turn 18 years old.’
Narrative provided by M Venkatarangaiya Foundation in their report ‘…and they never lived happily ever after. The battle for justice goes on: Voices of married girls in Telangana’
