Over 2500 Detained Amid Drive Against Child Marriage: Himanta Biswa Sarma

GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday informed that, as much as 2,666 people have been arrested in connection with child marriage in the state. Until Sunday, Assam police revealed that 139 people have been convicted from Assam's Biswanath Chariali, 130 in Barpeta, 126 in Dhubri, 123 in Baksa, 117 in Bongaigaon, 101 in Nagaon, 94 in Kokrajhar, 85 in Kamrup and 84 in each of the districts of Goalpara and Udalguri. 

Notably, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma introduced the drive against child marriage in the state to save the minor girls from getting exploited at a very young age and eradicate the root of this social evil from the state. The Matia Transit Camp in Goalpara district along with a stadium in Silchar, has been converted into temporary jails to keep arrested individuals in connection with child marriage crackdown in Assam. 

Assam police, Prashanta Bhuyan informed that, few 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. On Thursday, Assam Cabinet decided to form a sub-committee which will focus on pulling out ways and possibilities to rehabilitate the victim girls of child marriage.

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted regarding the same and applauded the state police department for their efforts and cooperation with administration in a massive way. Notably, the sub-committee includes, health minister, Keshab Mahanta, education minister, Ranoj Pegu and finance minister, Ajanta Neog. Ranoj Pegu while interacting with the media informed that the committee will research on varied ways to rehabilitate the girls, who got married earlier.

The idea of crackdown against child marriage arrived after a report by National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) revealed that, a huge number of women under the age of 18 are getting married across the state.

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