Guwahati, June 25: The Assam government has renamed all District Child Protection Officers as Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs), according to an official notification. The decision was made to strengthen efforts to prevent child marriages in the state.

The notification, issued by Mukesh Chandra Sahu, Principal Secretary of the Women and Child Development Department, states that the Governor of Assam has approved the change in nomenclature with immediate effect.

The CMPOs will perform duties specified under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, and the Assam Prohibition of Child Marriage Rules, 2015. They will also be responsible for lodging FIRs under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (as amended in 2019) or the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, as necessary.

The move is part of the state’s efforts to eradicate child marriage and protect children’s rights.