The fight against child marriage in Assam is witnessing a renewed vigour, with the Himanta Biswa Sarma Government intensifying its efforts to tackle this social menace, as highlighted by Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights or ASCPCR chairperson Shyamal Prasad Saikia.
During a State-level consultation held by ASCPCR to devise strategies for eradicating child marriage, the chairperson underlined the persistent challenge posed by child marriage “in societies plagued by illiteracy, poverty, and gender bias”.
Saikia stressed the crucial role of monitoring agencies like ASCPCR in ensuring the effective implementation of laws and schemes aimed at curbing child marriages by relevant authorities.
Acknowledging the proactive stance of the Assam Government against child marriage, Saikia affirmed that the government is stepping up its efforts to combat this issue head-on.
The consultation, jointly organised by ASCPCR, Child Marriage Free India, and supported by Bachpan Bachao Andolan-BBA, aimed to chart a course towards making Assam free from child marriage by 2030.
Bachpan Bachao Andolan executive director Dhananjay Tingal commended the Assam Government’s commitment, hailing it as a beacon for the nation. He praised the allocation of a substantial budget of ₹200 crore by the State towards eradicating child marriage and supporting the rehabilitation of victims.
Tingal stressed the necessity of judiciously utilising allocated funds to effectively combat child marriages and applauded the government’s stringent actions against perpetrators.
Kosi Lok Manch executive director Rishi Kant applauded the Assam Government’s unwavering dedication to reaching the remotest corners to safeguard children’s rights and to provide incentives to girl students ensuring education for all and consequently ending child marriage.
Recent data from the National Family Health Survey V (NFHS 2019-21) indicates a decline in the prevalence of child marriage in Assam since early 2023.
State Women and Child Development department deputy secretary Preeti Lekha Deka stressed the necessity of collective efforts, particularly in areas such as reintegrating girl victims into society and empowering them with essential skills.
Besides, the Assam Government launched a two-phase drive against the practice of child marriage last year, resulting in numerous arrests and case registrations. In the first phase, police arrested as many as 3,483 persons and registered 4,515 case in February, followed by 915 arrests and 710 cases in the second phase in October.
