Between Protection and Trust: A Reflection on Preventing Child Marriage

This case study explores the complex role of a Support Person (SP) under the POCSO Act and Rules 2020 during a crisis intervention to prevent the child marriage of a 16-year-old girl Sakshi (name changed). Navigating the intersection of chronic poverty, patriarchal norms, and legal mandates, the narrative highlights the deep ethical dilemma of a Support Person balancing the role of a trusted family ally with that of a statutory enforcer. It details the subsequent rupture of trust, the mobilization of child protection systems, and the crucial transition to a new practitioner to ensure the family’s long-term rehabilitation and access to welfare. Read here