Assam CM urges youth to marry early while distributing ADRE appointment letters

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on January 9, raised concerns over the growing trend of late marriages among Assamese youth, warning that it could have serious implications for the community’s population in the long run.

 

Addressing candidates while distributing appointment letters to those selected under ADRE 2.0 Grade-IV, the Chief Minister said many young men and women in Assam are now choosing to marry around the age of 30, a shift he believes is affecting family growth patterns. In a mix of humour and caution, he urged those who are unmarried to consider tying the knot within a year rather than delaying it further.

 

Explaining his concern, Sarma said marrying at 30 often means that by the time a person retires at 60, their children are still in their late twenties. Even marriages at 28, he noted, lead to similar outcomes. “Earlier, by the time of retirement, our grandparents had already seen their great-grandchildren,” he said, drawing a contrast with present-day trends.

 

The Chief Minister warned that repeated delays in marriage are contributing to a gradual decline in the Assamese population. He observed that many Assamese villages today appear to have very few children, though he added light-heartedly that there are still exceptions where families have eight or nine children.

 

Referring to long-standing population-control narratives, Sarma said that while people are often advised to limit families to two or three children, Assamese society has reached a stage where it needs encouragement to have children at all. Excessive caution and postponement, he said, could pose a risk to the social and cultural continuity of the community.

 

His remarks have triggered fresh discussion on changing social choices, demographic trends and the future sustainability of Assamese society.