Assam Achieves Significant Reduction in Child Marriages Across 20 Districts
First Published: July 17, 2024, 16:51 IST
Written By: Northeast Live Digital Desk
A recent report titled ‘Towards Justice: Ending Child Marriage,’ unveiled on World Day for International Justice, highlights a significant stride in reducing child marriages in Assam. The state witnessed an impressive 81% decrease in cases across 20 districts between 2021-22 and 2023-24, underscoring the effectiveness of robust legal actions.
The data, aggregated from NCRB and surveys in 1,132 villages with a collective population of 21 lakh, including 8 lakh children, reveals that Jorhat and Nagaon districts achieved a 100% reduction in child marriage cases, while Goalpara district saw an 8% decline. In 30% of these villages, child marriage has been eradicated, and 40% report a significant decrease.
“In 12 out of 20 districts, over 90% of respondents support measures like arrests and FIRs to combat child marriage,” the report states. However, it also highlights a critical concern: of 3,563 child marriage cases set for trial in 2022, only 181 were resolved, resulting in a backlog that could take 19 years to clear at the current rate.
Priyank Kanoongo, Chairman of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, emphasized that prosecuting offenders is essential to eradicating child marriage, with Assam’s model providing a blueprint for the rest of the country. Kanoongo also reinforced the secular nature of laws like POCSO and PCMA against child marriage under any religious pretext.
Campaigner Bhuwan Ribhu praised Assam’s initiatives, advocating for nationwide adoption of similar legal measures to deter child marriage. Ribhu suggested establishing fast-track courts to expedite case resolutions and recommended doubling penalties for offenders to mirror punishments for rape conspiracies.
In line with these efforts, Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a state-wide campaign against child marriage on January 23, 2023. This initiative, emphasizing the violation of fundamental rights and health risks to minor girls, has already resulted in 3,015 arrests by early February.
Also Read: Assam government announces ‘Nijut Moina’ stipend scheme for girl students to curb child marriage.
Original Story https://northeastlivetv.com/around-ne/assam/assam-witnesses-81-reduction-in-child-marriage-cases-report/
Category : Assam,Top News,Assam Against Child Marriage,Child marriage,Child Marriage Prevention,War Against Child Marriage
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