Assam Chief Minister: Child Marriage to be wiped out from state by 2026

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today said that child marriage in the state will be completely wiped out by 2026. 

Addressing the media today, CM Sarma said that after 2026, nobody will find any instance of child marriage in the state. He further said that a law against polygamy would also be introduced in the next assembly session. 

"Nobody will find child marriage in Assam after 2026. I think by 2026 child marriage will be wiped out from Assam. And after this assembly, we are going to stop polygamy as well. So this both will be stopped," said CM Sarma. 

Earlier in October this year, Assam police arrested a total of 1,039 men either on charges of marrying girls below the permissible age by law or encouraging or solemnizing child marriages. Prior to this, the first drive against child marriage was conducted when around 3,000 people were named in FIRs in back in February.

In September, the Assam Chief Minister had told the State Assembly that a total of 3,907 people had been arrested in cases related to child marriages in last five years. Among those arrested, over 3000 persons face charges under the POCSO Act.