ASSAM: The Assam government’s initiative to end child marriages has yielded positive results in the state.
The India Child Protection (ICP) report titled “Towards Justice: Ending Child Marriage,” has shown an impressive 81 percent reduction in cases between 2021-22 and 2023-24 in 20 districts of the state.
The report was released on Wednesday on the occasion of World Day for International Justice.
The ICP’s findings were based on data from the National Crime Bureau Records (NCRB) and filed data collected form 1,132 villages of the state.
According to the report, Jorhat and Nagaon have completely eradicated child marriages.
The data showed complete eradication in 30 percent of the villages surveyed to carry out the study and 40 percent of the villages showed a substantial decrease.
The findings stated that over 90 percent of respondents believe that strict measures that were taken by the state government, such as arrests and filing of FIRs, have worked effectively to curb the menace of child marriage.
Besides, nearly 98 percent of Assamese residents believe prosecution is vital in ending the practice.
Taking to X handle, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “This exceptional report by @IndiaCPOrg is shining testament to our sustained efforts in empowering Nari Shakti. With over 3,000 arrests and our zero-tolerance approach has led to an 81% decline in child marriages since 2021. We will not rest, till we eliminate this social evil.”
The Assam CM on Monday pledged that he would eliminate child marriage in the state before 2026.
The findings by the India Child Protection report reveal how Assam is showing the country the way to end child marriage.
