Assam sees drop in child marriage rates by 81 per cent: Report

Guwahati: A new report stated that there was a significant decline in child marriages across Assam.

Titled "Towards Justice: Ending Child Marriage," the study shows an impressive 81 per cent reduction in cases between 2021-22 and 2023-24 in 20 districts.

This achievement was attributed to the Assam government's stance against child marriage and its focus on legal prosecution.

Notably, two districts, Jorhat and Nagaon, have completely eradicated child marriages according to the report.

The data, compiled from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and surveys in over 1,100 villages, paints a promising picture, the report states.

Around 30 per cent of villages have eliminated child marriage entirely, and 40% report a substantial decrease.

Additionally, nearly 98 per cent of Assamese residents believe prosecution is vital in ending the practice.

Experts like Priyank Kanoongo from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights endorsed Assam's approach, highlighting the importance of prosecution as a deterrent.

He viewed the state's model as a beacon of hope for India.

The report also acknowledges the ongoing challenge – a backlog of 3,563 child marriage cases awaiting trial.

At the current pace, resolving these cases could take nearly two decades.