GUWAHATI: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared on December 6 that the state is on a mission to eradicate child marriages entirely by 2026.
Speaking to the media, CM Sarma expressed confidence that by in two years, occurrences of child marriages in Assam would be eradicated.
"I think by 2026 marriage will be wiped out from Assam. After this assembly, we are going to stop polygamy as well. So both will be stopped," Sarma told media.
This commitment follows recent law enforcement actions against child marriages. In October, Assam police apprehended 1,039 men on charges related to marrying underage girls or facilitating and solemnising child marriages. This crackdown builds upon a similar initiative in February, where approximately 3,000 individuals faced charges in the first concerted effort against child marriage.
CM Sarma disclosed that a total of 3,907 people had been arrested in the last five years in connection with child marriages. Over 3,000 of these arrests involved charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Sarma also announced the forthcoming introduction of a law against polygamy in the next assembly session.
