A 32-year-old youth residing in Malda district has made it to the India Book of Records for stopping around 150 child marriages during the past nine years.

Jubaraj Tribedi, a resident of Chari-Anantapur area in Kaliachak-III block, has been recognised for his work by authorities of the Indian Book of Records recently with a medal, certificate and other documents.

Tribedi, who is a clerk in a high school, got involved in the work from college days.

“Initially, I learned acting from my uncle Parimal Tribedi and then, along with some friends, started hosting street plays across Malda district to prevent people from getting their minor girls married. Since 2012, I started working on this issue in a full-fledged manner and developed a network. These days, I get information about most of the cases and put all my efforts to stop such marriages,” said Tribedi.

He immediately communicates with the police and the administration if he gets information and in most cases he rushes to the spot and tries persuade the parents to stop the marriage.

“On many occasions, I had to face threats, and even assaults. But I did not give up,” said Tribedi, who has been felicitated earlier by the state government for his work.

A few days back, Tribedi was taken aback as he got a call from the India Book of Records.“Due to the pandemic, they did not hold a formal function and have sent the medal, certificate and other items to me. This recognition has boosted my morale to continue work ing on the issue,” he said. Along with the prevention of child marriages, Tribedi also works for girls in erosion-affected areas of Malda.

“I have spent my own money to arrange marriages of girls who are from poor families and have lost their homes and land due to erosion. I often move in the rural belts and visit households where there are minor girls, meet their parents and urge them not to get them married unless they turn adults,” he said.