Assam Declares Four Villages Child Marriage-Free in Efforts to Eradicate Social Evil

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that four villages in Cachar district have been declared child marriage-free, thanks to initiatives focused on the welfare of girls. These villages—Rukni Part IV, Bhairabpur Part I, Rosekandy Grant I, and Rosekandy Grant II—achieved this status under the ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ initiative. Sarma emphasized Assam’s firm stance against child marriage, sharing that the state has intensified efforts to eradicate this social evil through schemes like Nijut Moina and the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024.

The state’s crackdown on child marriages has resulted in 5,348 cases registered and 5,842 arrests across three special drives, including one earlier this month. Additionally, the chargesheets in 95% of cases from the first two drives have been filed, with many convictions secured.