Steps to stop child marriages in Assam discussed

'Child marriage is an evil, should be looked as a crime against children'

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Assam has seen a rise in child marriages in the last two years and the practice is thriving amongst the State's tribal communities. According to Census 2011, in Assam, 2.6 lakh children were married off before turning 18 years, making it among the top 15 states in the country. In this regard, Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi's Children's Foundation (KSCF) announced their upcoming 'Child Marriage Free India' campaign in Guwahati on Tuesday. This was announced at a state consultation that was held to mobilize all stakeholders of child protection to move together and help in the realization of child marriage-free India. KSCF co-organized the consultation with the Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA). KSCF began nationwide consultations after the recent appeal by Kailash Satyarthi for a sustained campaign across the country to make India child marriage-free.

The National Family Health Survey-V (NFHS 2019-21) reports that nationally 23.3 per cent women between the age group of 20-24 were married off before attaining the age of 18. In this context, it is important to highlight the disturbing trend of child marriage in Assam. According to the report of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2021, during the last three years, there has been a continuous increase in victims of child marriage in the State. In the background of rising cases of child marriages in the State, it is essential that strict vigilance and measures should be taken to stop the practice. In this context, the consultation deliberated on pertinent issues linked to child marriage and legal applications to stop the evil practice. The key points discussed were appointment of Child Marriage Prohibition Officer (CMPO), mandatory FIR registration in cases of child marriage, linking child marriage with Juvenile Justice (care and protection) Act and POCSO Act for penalizing the perpetrators of crime, and giving incentives to parents to motivate them not to marry their under-age children.

Key dignitaries present on this occasion included member-secretary, Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA), N Baura, IG-RPF, Pramod Kumar, deputy director, Women and Child department, Binjumoni Das, chairperson CWC, Jitu Dutta, deputy secretary of ASLSA, R Brahma, Deputy Director, WCD-CID, Smriti Rekha Bora, founder of Gold Global Organization For Life Development, Rajib Sarma and KC George, Executive Director-POCSO, KSCF.

Speaking on the occasion Rajib Sarma said, "What we are seeing today in Assam with regard to child marriage is only the tip of the iceberg. Child marriages are rampant in our State's tribal communities, the situation is very grave and maternal mortality rates (MMR) are also very high. The situation needs to be tackled collectively at the earliest by all stakeholders."

Highlighting the adverse impact of child marriage on children, KC George, executive director of POCSO, KSCF, said, "Child marriage is an evil existing in our society and should be looked as a crime against children. It obstructs the complete development of children. All stakeholders like government agencies and law enforcement agencies must make collective effort to stop the practice. In this regard, our organization under the leadership of Kailash Satyarthi will work closely with the State Government, law enforcement agencies and civil society groups towards a child-marriage free Assam."

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