Silchar: Minister for Excise, fisheries & Transport Parimal Suklabaidya, on Sunday, attended a programme in Cachar district’s Rukni part 4, which has been declared a “zero child marriage village” by the district authorities.

The village falls under Dholai assembly constituency. The programme, which was organised at Darmikhal high school on Sunday morning, was attended by Cachar deputy commissioner Rohan Kumar Jha, superintendent of police Numal Mahatto and additional deputy commissioner Mansoor Ahmed Majumder, social welfare and other officials.

While sharing his reaction, minister Parimal Suklabaidya praised the Cachar district administration, police department and social welfare department for making it possible that Rukni part 4 has been found with no child marriage cases in the past two years. He also heaped praises on chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for taking a strict approach in curbing the menace of child marriage across the state.

Talking at the event, Cachar deputy commissioner Rohan Kumar Jha announced that Rukni village would get a financial reward from the government for the achievement of having zero child marriage cases.

He, however, said the financial reward would not be provided if child marriage cases are found there in the coming days (till the time of grant of the reward). He praised the social welfare department for its efforts in finding out the village with zero child marriage cases.

Cachar superintendent of police Numal Mahatto said 33 cases of child marriage have been registered in the district and 88 persons held in these cases in 2023 so far.

He emphasised on the importance of raising mass awareness to eradicate the menace of child marriage from the society. He also stressed on the need of developing good relations between the police and general public to create a better society.

Earlier, speaking on the occasion additional deputy commissioner Mansoor Ahmed Majumder also lauded the social welfare department along with the block development officer and childline service for identifying the village with zero child marriage. He also urged the common people for their help and co-operation so that child marriage can be eradicated. 

Assistant commissioner and incharge district social welfare department, Trinayan Das also spoke on the occasion.
It may be mentioned that apart from Rukni, another village in Cachar has been recognised as a “zero child marriage village”. The village is Bhairabpur under Katigorah assembly constituency.