Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s Mission to Stop Child Marriages
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced that the state’s mission to stop child marriages is bringing positive changes and ensuring a healthy life for girls. He shared that teenage pregnancies in Assam have decreased from 9,330 in April 2022 to 3,401 in June 2024.
In a social media post, the Chief Minister said, “Our rigorous mission against #ChildMarriage is not only bringing a societal change but also enabling a healthy life for our girls. Teenage pregnancy in April 2022: 9,330 Teenage pregnancy in June 2024: 3,401 Our mission will continue unabated in the coming days.”
On Thursday, the Assam government decided to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act of 1935 to prevent child marriage and ensure equal marriage and divorce registration. The Chief Minister wrote, “We have taken a significant step to ensure justice for our daughters and sisters by putting additional safeguards against child marriage. In the meeting of the #AssamCabinet today we have decided to repeal the Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act and Rules 1935 vide the Assam Repealing Bill 2024.”
He explained that the Assam Repealing Bill, 2024 aims to bring parity to the registration of marriage and divorce. The bill will be presented in the next monsoon session of the Assam Legislative Assembly. The State Cabinet has also directed that a suitable legislation be brought for the registration of Muslim marriages in Assam.
Earlier, CM Sarma expressed his concerns about the changing demography, stating that the Muslim population in Assam has increased from 12 percent in 1951 to 40 percent. He alleged that illegal immigrants are marrying tribal girls without following legal procedures.
Doubts Revealed
Assam -: Assam is a state in the northeastern part of India. It is known for its rich culture, tea gardens, and the Brahmaputra River.
Chief Minister -: A Chief Minister is the head of the government in an Indian state. They are responsible for making important decisions and running the state.
Himanta Biswa Sarma -: Himanta Biswa Sarma is the current Chief Minister of Assam. He is a politician who works to improve the state.
Child Marriages -: Child marriages are when children, usually under 18, are married off. This is illegal and harmful to the children involved.
Teenage Pregnancies -: Teenage pregnancies refer to girls who become pregnant during their teenage years, usually between 13 and 19 years old. This can be risky for their health and future.
Repeal -: To repeal a law means to officially cancel it so that it is no longer in effect.
Assam Muslim Marriages and Divorce Registration Act of 1935 -: This was a law in Assam that dealt with the registration of marriages and divorces among Muslims. The government decided to cancel it to ensure equal treatment for everyone.
Demographic Balance -: Demographic balance refers to the distribution of different age groups and genders in a population. Keeping this balance is important for the well-being of a society.
