Consultation on Prevention of Child Marriage in Assam
Child Marriage in Assam
Guwahati: A consultation was held in Assam on Tuesday to prevent child marriage as the state has been recording an increase in such cases for the past two years.
According to a press release, it was organized as part of the “Child Marriage Free India” campaign of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kailash Satyarthi’s Children’s Foundation (KSCF).
As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2021, Assam witnessed an increase in child marriages from 30.8% to 31.8% during the period 2019-21.
The National Family Health Survey-V (NFHS 2019-21) reported that the percentage of victims of child marriage at the national level has declined from 26.8 percent in 2015-16 to 23.3 percent in 2019-20.
According to the latest NFHS report, nationally, 23.3% of women between the ages of 20-24 were married before the age of 18.
According to the 2011 census, in Assam, 2.6 lakh children were married before the age of 18 and it was among the top 15 states in the country.
The release said that in the backdrop of increasing incidence of child marriages in the state, it is imperative that strict vigilance and measures be taken to curb the practice.
KSCF organized this meeting in collaboration with Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA) to mobilize all stakeholders involved in child protection to help create a Child Marriage Free India.
Important points discussed in the state-level consultation included the appointment of Child Marriage Prohibition Officer (CMPO), mandatory registration of FIRs in cases of child marriage and parents not marrying their minor children.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajib Sarma, founder of NGO Gold Global Organization for Life Development said, “What we are witnessing today regarding child marriage in Assam is only the tip of the iceberg. All The concerned stakeholders need to collectively deal with this situation as soon as possible.
Highlighting the negative impact of child marriage, KC George, Executive Director, POCSO, KSCF said, “Child marriage is an evil in our society and should be treated as a crime against children.
