Guwahati : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to X on July 19 to highlight the success of the state’s vigorous campaign against child marriage. According to Sarma’s post, the initiative has significantly impacted societal norms and improved health outcomes for girls.

The Chief Minister revealed a substantial decrease in teenage pregnancies over the past two years. In April 2022, there were 9,330 reported cases of teenage pregnancies. By June 2024, this number had dropped to 3,401, showcasing a noteworthy reduction of nearly 64 per cent.

Sarma expressed pride in the progress achieved and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to continuing the mission with relentless dedication. “Our rigorous mission against #ChildMarriage is not only bringing a societal change but also enabling a healthy life for our girls,” Sarma stated.

Earlier on July 18 , Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said his government would continue its crackdown on child marriages and a special drive against the social evil would be conducted every six months.    

He said the director general of police (DGP) has been instructed to conduct a preliminary survey for the next round of crackdown on child marriages towards the year-end.   

Sarma’s comments come after an NGO report on Wednesday maintained that the state government’s action against child marriage has led to a decline in the number of such cases.    

“Our campaign and tough action against child marriage will continue. Every six months a special drive will be conducted, and the DGP has been instructed to conduct a preliminary survey for the next crackdown on child marriages in November-December this year,” the CM said in a video message on Wednesday evening.

Initially, some people were “not happy with the crackdown against child marriages, but now people are preventing the social evil, even in minority areas,” he said.    

Sarma said the data of the India Child Protection (ICP) report is a “testament to our sustained efforts in empowering Nari Shakti (women power)”.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on July 18 announced that the Assam Cabinet has decided to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act of 1935. This decision, part of the Assam Repealing Bill 2024, marks a proactive step towards ending child marriages and ensuring parity in marriage and divorce registration across communities in the state.

The decision, taken during today’s Assam Cabinet meeting, underscores the government’s commitment to addressing social challenges such as child marriage. The repeal of the outdated 1935 Act is seen as a move towards establishing a more equitable framework for marriage registrations, reflecting contemporary norms and ensuring legal protection for all citizens.

Chief Minister Sarma stated the need for a suitable legislation that will replace the repealed Act, specifically addressing the registration of Muslim marriages in Assam. This new legislation is set to be tabled in the upcoming Monsoon Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, highlighting the government’s proactive approach in legislative reform to uphold women’s rights and social justice.

The Assam Repealing Bill 2024 is expected to undergo thorough deliberation in the Assembly session, where its passage will be crucial in formalizing these changes into law.