Assam Designates Child Marriage Prohibition Officers to Intensify Crackdown
The renamed officers will now have power to lodge FIRs under key child protection laws to push the state toward its 2026 eradication goal.
Overview
- Child Marriage Prohibition Officers are empowered to enforce provisions of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and the Assam Prohibition of Child Marriage Rules, 2015.
- Officers can register FIRs under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
- Since relaunching its campaign in October 2023, Assam has arrested over 5,000 individuals and filed charge sheets against 96% of the accused.
- The crackdown has driven a 54% decline in child marriages, a 63% drop in teenage pregnancies and delivered zero-case status in 30% of villages.
- The state aims to eradicate child marriage by 2026 and has drawn encouragement from the Prime Minister for other states to follow its model.