Guwahati, Feb 2: Assam Police have registered as many as 4004 cases against the practice of child marriage across 36 districts of the state in the wake of a recent directive by the Assam government against the menace.
Among the districts where the highest number of cases have been registered in police stations are Dhubri, where as many as 370 cases have registered so far followed by Hojai (255 cases); Udalguri (235 cases); Morigaon (224 cases); Kokrajhar (204 cases); Nalbari (171 cases); Goalpara (157 cases); Baksa (153 cases); South Salmara (145 cases); Bajali (132 cases); Karbi Anglong (126 cases); Darrang 125 cases; Bongaigaon (123 cases) and Nagaon (113 cases).
The cases have been registered following the decision taken by the state Cabinet on January 23, 2023 to direct the police force to launch a massive crackdown against the practice within the next 15 days.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday shared the data of cases registered against child marriages across the state while affirming the government’s strong resolve to end the menace in the state.
“Assam government is firm in its resolve to end the menace of child marriage in the state. So far, Assam Police has registered 4,004 cases across the state and more police action is likely in the days ahead. Action on the cases will begin starting February 3 (2023). I request all to cooperate,” Sarma informed through his official Twitter handle.
The state government’s decision to launch a statewide drive against the practice of child marriage comes in view of the disturbing information compiled on the ‘menace’ under National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5).
According to the NFHS-5 data, 31.8 percent women in Assam in the age group of 20-24 years have married before age 18 years compared to 23.3 percent women in India.
Moreover, 11.7 percent women in Assam in the age group of 15-19 years were already mothers or pregnant at the time of the survey (NFHS-5) compared to 6.8 percent women in India.
“Continuous action will be taken by the police across the state. Such action will be taken across districts in both Upper and Lower Assam and not targeted against any particular district or community. Cases will be lodged under the POCSO (The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act, 2012 and Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006,” the chief minister had earlier said.
Assam has reported about one lakh child marriages so far.
According to official data, one fourth (25 percent) of the maternal deaths are of age less than or equal to 20 years.
“Child marriages are the prime cause of deaths of infants and mothers. The state Cabinet has therefore decided that cases would be registered under POCSO Act against persons (adult) marrying girls under 14 years of age,” the chief minister said.
“Further, a two-year sentence (under Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006) would be given in regard to a child marriage which takes place between couples aged between 14 years and years punishment and such a marriage would be considered illegal,” he said.
Sarma informed that child marriage prohibition officers would be appointed under Section 16 of Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006.
“Every gaon panchayat secretary will have to compulsorily lodge FIRs in police stations if they come across any instance of child marriage,” the chief minister said.
NFHS-5 was conducted in the year 2019-20.
According to the survey, western Assam’s Dhubri district registered 22 percent of women/girls that gave birth in the prohibited age. Likewise, in South Salmara, 22 percent of women became mothers at an early age; 16 percent in Darrang; 15 percent in Kamrup; 15.6 percent in Hojai; 15.4 percent in Bongaigaon; 15 percent in Nagaon and 14 percent in Barpeta district.