Assam Govt Curbing Child Marriages, Crime; Convictions on the Rise

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The concerted efforts of the Assam government have brought down child marriages, along with bringing down the crime rate and raising the conviction rate in the state.

In 2023, the state had 5,410 child marriages, which came down to 122 up to June in 2025, registering a steep 97 percent decline. The conviction rate in the state was 5.51 percent in 2021, and it is 26.22 percent till June 2025.

Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "Due to concerted efforts of our government, we have been able to significantly reduce cases of child marriage and the overall crime rate in the state. This is possible for the ever-alert action of the Assam Police to ensure a safe Assam. Our goal is to ensure a 60 percent conviction rate in the next five years and eradicate child marriage completely by 2026 in the state."

The drive against child marriage started in the state in February 2022, leading to the arrest of 3,483 people like husbands, parents, kazis, and others involved, besides the registration of 4,515 cases. The second drive began in October 2022, leading to the arrest of 915 people and registration of 710 cases.

During the conclave of NDA chief ministers in May this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the Assam chief minister for his government's prompt action and success in arresting the menace of child marriage in the state. The Prime Minister went an extra mile to tell the officials of other states to go to Assam to get firsthand experience in checking child marriages.

The Assam Assembly repealed the Assam Moslem Marriages and Divorces Registration Act, 1935. The aims of the abolition of the Act are to eradicate child marriages, empower women, ensure that all marriages, regardless of religion, are registered officially with the state, and end the cleric-led Kazi system.