Assam government will engage series of lawyers to deal with Child marriage cases-Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that child marriage will be eradicated from Assam completely by the year 2026.

Sarma in state assembly stated a new act against Child Marriage will be brought and a notification has been issued to enlist all gram panchayat secretaries in Assam as the child marriage prevention officers who will ensure the prohibition of child marriages, the protection of the victims as well as prosecution of the offenders by lodging First Information Reports.

Assam government in this year’s budget launched the ‘Mission for Prevention of Child Marriage’ in the state with an allocation of Rs 200 crore. Sarma said, “We will appoint a special advocate against each Child Marriage case.”


Sarma said, “Whoever is involved in child marriage will face action under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 and the drive against child marriage will continue.

Replying to a question from Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha in the state assembly, Sarma said, “By 2026, child marriage must be ended in Assam. Our government will take strong action to end Child Marriage.

He added, "We will launch an operation against Child Marriage in the state from time to time and arrest people in every 2-3 months. Helpline number will be opened. We have so far charged 900 cases. We have acted as per law. The government will work for the rehabilitation of the victims - by providing scholarships, free education, free rice schemes.”

As per the state government data, 3,098 persons were arrested in the first two months of this year under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.

The report further noted that on the other hand, 932 persons were arrested in the state in 2017 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO), while 1393 persons were arrested in 2018, 1428 in 2019, 1471 in 2020, 1500 in 2021, 1537 in 2022 and 647 in first two months of 2023.

He said that out of 4,363 cases of child marriage since February 3, over one thousand people are still in custody.

Sarma said," Till now in this mission against the child marriage in Assam, 90% percent of the cases will be convicted under POCSO Act. We have arrested many persons in connections with child marriage and so far many of them have been convicted. We will work for conviction because our government is serious about this social evil and by 2026, child marriage will be completely stopped in Assam.”

He said that those who are forcefully married by their parents can lodge a complaint to us through the helpline number. “Our government will ensure that the husband of the girl who bears the burden of motherhood under the age of 14, will face jail term of 14 years.