Guwahati, 17 July: A recent report titled “Towards Justice: Ending Child Marriage” has revealed a remarkable 81% reduction in child marriage cases across 20 districts in Assam between 2021-22 and 2023-24. The report, released on World Day for International Justice, attributes this success to the state government’s initiatives and the impact of prosecution in curbing the practice.

According to the report, Jorhat and Nagaon districts have achieved a 100% reduction in child marriage cases, while Goalpara saw a 8% reduction. The data collected from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and 1,132 villages across 20 districts, covering a population of 21 lakh with 8 lakh children, indicates significant progress in ending child marriages.

The report also highlights that 30% of villages have completely eradicated child marriage, while 40% have seen a substantial reduction. Moreover, 98% of people in Assam believe that prosecution is key to ending child marriage.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Priyank Kanoongo, emphasized that prosecution is crucial in ending child marriage and praised the Assam model as a beacon of hope for the country. Bhuwan Ribhu, also present at the report’s release, advocated for the adoption of legal action as a deterrent and recommended establishing fast-track courts to resolve the backlog of cases.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s state-wide campaign against child marriage, launched in January 2023, has already resulted in 3,015 arrests, demonstrating the government’s commitment to ending this crime against children.

The report’s findings underscore the need for continued efforts to address the issue, with a backlog of 3,563 child marriage cases still pending trial, which could take 19 years to clear at the current rate. Nevertheless, the progress made in Assam serves as a promising step towards ending child marriages in the state and the country at large.