Assam: Hospitals To Prepare List Of Underage Pregnancy To Track Culprits

GUWAHATI: Hospitals in Assam along with district health authorities have initiated to extract lists of teenage pregnancy cases and have suggested the police departments to track families involved in child marriage. 

As per health officials, the state administration has directed all hospitals to inform police if any individual under the age of 18 years registers for pregnancy test. According to sources, this particular tactic will facilitate in apprehension process of people who are in connection with child marriage in the state. 

The joint director of health services, Dr Kandarpa Das informed that, special care will be taken for underage pregnancy as advised by the administration. However, National Health Mission has directed to inform the police regarding any such case, he added. 

In Assam's Goalpara district, the concerned health authorities is keeping track on parents who are visiting hospitals to collect birth certificates. Kandarpa Das further mentions that, no cases of underage pregnancy has been registered in the hospitals ever since the drive against child marriage has been launched. This might be due to legal fears, he added.

But during the time of delivery, the individuals must get admitted in hospitals under safety grounds, Das stated. Notably, more than 2,500 people have been arrested in the past one week, in connection with child marriage.

As per officials from health department, pregnant women who have not attained the age of 18, have paused from visiting hospitals for issues related with pregnancy as they fear arrest of their husbands and father.

Prior to the crackdown, long queues could be seen in the hospitals for pregnancy tests by teenagers. On the other hand, Assam police, Prashanta Bhuyan informed that, custodies in several districts of Assam has been filled up leaving no space for more arrestees.

Hence, the state administration has transformed the Matia Transit Camp with 3000 capacity and Silchar stadium into temporary jails for the inmates. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma's drive against child marriage has created a havoc like situation in the entire region. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) has concluded to seek intervention of the Supreme Court against the crackdown.

 Also Read: Assam State Disaster Management Authority Issues Do's And Don'ts To Combat Air Pollution 

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