Protests against Assam government’s stringent action against child marriages defies logic

In order to implement the CM's announcement, the Assam government has named the secretaries of all its 2,197 gram panchayats as child marriage prohibition officer (CMPO) under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006 to register cases against child marriage offenders under Pocso and PCMA

The northeastern state of Assam is not new to social or political unrest, civilian protests and armed rebellion has dogged the state over the years. But the public protests following the stringent action initiated by the Assam government to stop child marriages defies commonsense. Child marriage stands against the grain of modern day society, it is against the law of the land and moreover, threatens the life and physical security of under-age girls who are forced into illegal child marriages by their parents or close relatives. These incidents not only challenge the law of the land under the garb of freedom of religious practice but are also a threat to the social fabric of our country.

Assam government's action followed the announcement of state chief minister that the government will register cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) against all those who are found to be involved in child marriages of girls or anyone who is marrying under-14 years old girls. In order to implement the CM's announcement, the Assam government has named the secretaries of all its 2,197 gram panchayats as child marriage prohibition officer (CMPO) under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006 to register cases against child marriage offenders under Pocso and PCMA. The decisive step by Assam government comes in the background of state's poor maternal mortality rate (MMR), Assam has country's worst MMR and highest infant mortality rate (IMR) among all northeastern states, this has been caused due to marriage of large number of under-age girls, mostly in the remote villages. Another state Bihar too has initiated action against child marriage and has asked all district collectors to take strongly implement PCMA laws in the state to stop child marriage. Bihar has announced that the village headman will be held responsible if any child marriage case is reported from their village. However, Bihar needs to implement its orders on ground strongly much as what Assam government has done to stop child marriages and punish the offenders.

We need to take a closer view at the primary reasons that led the Assam government to call for drastic action child marriages. The National Family Health Survey-V (NFHS 2019-21) reported that nationally 23.3% women between the age group of 20-24 were married off before attaining the age of 18. In this context, Assam has a very disturbing trend National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) in 2021 reported, during the last 3 years, there has been a continuous increase in victims of child marriage in the state. NFHS-V reported an increase in child marriages in Assam from 30.8% to 31.8% in 2019-21 period. In the background of rising cases of child marriages in the state, it is essential that the state government initiated strict measures to stop the practice. Many political parties in the state and elsewhere in the country are fully aware about the implications both physical and mental that child marriages have on the under-age girls. But political parties remain silent as most of the child marriages happen in the minority communities who are more often treated with kid's gloves due to political benefit. Communities leaders of the minority communities also take refuge under the garb freedom of religion and faith to justify this illegal practice.

In this context, we must remember the huge nationwide public campaign that was launched last year in October by Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi against the evil practice of child marriage. The nationwide campaign against child marriage was led by thousands of women and children who took the leadership to root out the social evil. Around 20 million women participated during the launch across the country. Over 70,000 women and children led people from all walks of life in lighting diyas and candle light marches in 10,000 villages from over 500 districts in 26 states. The campaign showed that people are now ready and looking forward to initiating immediate action to root out the social evil that has lingered on since ages. Not only the common public but it is now evident that even the political parties are showing the resolve to fight against this evil. All these augurs well for our daughters and our country.

The need of the hour is to uproot child marriage out of our society and heed to the call of Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi wholeheartedly. All stakeholders must join hands to take collective action against this social evil protect our daughters. Child marriage is a very sensitive issue that needs all our attention as it involves our daughters, it should not be thrown open for reckless and unnecessary debate. Our daughters are wealth of our country and they need to be protected, nurtured and educated in a safe environment. The need of the hour is to provide free and compulsory education to all children up to age of 18 years, free modern vocational training to enable them to join country's workforce. Also strict ground implementation of India's child marriage prohibition law and Pocso law in cases of child marriage in all states much like what Assam government has done is required immediately. These measures will not only help in creating a safe and secure environment for our children but will also provide better opportunities in future.

(Anil Pandey is a senior Journalist & Director India For Children)

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