GUWAHATI: Assam has achieved a landmark victory in the fight against child marriage, recording an astounding 81% to 89% reduction in cases across key districts over the last three years (2021-2024). This dramatic success is the result of an unprecedented legal crackdown and robust institutional reforms, setting a powerful new model for the rest of India.
The state, which historically struggled with a child marriage prevalence of 31.8% (NFHS-4, 2015-16), has effectively transformed the issue from a neglected social concern into a top-priority criminal offense.
🚨 Massive Enforcement Yields Immediate Results
Assam’s strategy hinged on rigorous legal deterrence, with the state police launching the largest anti-child marriage operation in history from 2023 onwards.
Massive Arrests: The operation has led to over 8,600 arrests under the stringent provisions of the POCSO Act (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) and the PCMA (Prohibition of Child Marriage Act).
- Legal Deterrence: Reports indicate that this zero-tolerance approach and the resulting prosecution have been the most effective tool in creating a deterrent. The emphasis on legal action has been credited with ending child marriage in 30% of villages and significantly reducing cases in another 40% of villages across 20 districts surveyed.
- Case Surge and Decline: NCRB data shows a sharp increase in registered cases from low single digits (0-12 cases per year previously) to 149 cases in 2021 and 449 cases in 2022, reflecting the renewed police commitment. This proactive registration led directly to the subsequent drop in prevalence.
- Prevention Success: The enhanced monitoring and enforcement capabilities have successfully prevented over 3,000 attempts of child marriage in 2023–2024.
🛡️ Institutional Reforms and Grassroots Monitoring
The success is cemented by strong institutional support and a robust monitoring system:
- Dedicated Task Forces: The state established district-level task forces, with teams monitored by the Superintendent of Police (SP) in every district to actively track and interdict potential child marriages.
- CMPO Designation: Key grassroots officials, including Gram Panchayat Secretaries and Lot Mandals (Patwaries), have been officially designated as Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs), empowering them to lodge FIRs under POCSO and PCMA.
- Frontline Reporting: ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and teachers are utilized as a real-time reporting network, leveraging their deep community penetration to track and prevent early marriages.
- Education Incentives: The government has introduced schemes like Mukhya Mantrir Nijut Moina Asoni (MMNMA) to provide financial support to girl students, creating incentives to pursue education and effectively delay marriage.
A recent report highlighted that Assam is now leading the nation with the steepest decline in child marriage, recording an 84% drop in cases among girls and a 91% reduction among boys over three years, significantly surpassing the national decline average.
Assam stands firm in its mission, demonstrating that a strategy combining strict legal enforcement, cutting-edge monitoring systems, and socio-economic incentives is the key to eradicating the social evil of child marriage and securing the future of its young women.
