Assam Steps Up Fight Against Child Marriage, 19,482 Cases Prevented

Assam has intensified its efforts to curb child marriage, with nearly 19,500 such marriages reportedly prevented across the state over the past three years amid a broader national campaign to eliminate the practice. The latest push comes as the United Nations has designated November 27 as the International Day for the Elimination of Child , Early and Forced Marriage, giving fresh global recognition to efforts against the practice. The date holds particular significance for India as it marks the launch of the ‘Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat’ campaign by the Union government in 2024. The UN adopted the resolution on September 4 following sustained advocacy for a dedicated international day to end child marriage. The global initiative was spearheaded by Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of Just Rights for Children (JRC), who had called for a dedicated international day to eliminate child marriage. During his address at the United Nations in March 2026, Ribhu renewed the appeal in the presence of international leaders. A resolution was subsequently introduced before the UN General Assembly and adopted on September 4. 19,482 Child Marriages Prevented in Assam The Just Rights for Children (JRC), described as one of the world’s largest child protection networks, has been working through its Child Marriage Free World campaign, focusing on legal intervention, accountability and community participation. In Assam, JRC has been working with seven partner organisations across 35 districts. Over the last three years, these efforts have helped prevent 19,482 child marriages in the state. At the national level, JRC and its partners have reportedly stopped or prevented more than 5.5 lakh child marriages . Its network works with governments and law-enforcement agencies across 782 districts, while also involving schools, panchayats, women’s groups, faith leaders, police personnel, elected representatives and vulnerable communities. Assam Sees Decline in Child Marriage The latest available national health survey data also points towards a decline in the prevalence of child marriage in Assam. According to NFHS-5 (2019-21), around 31.8 per cent of women aged 20-24 in Assam were married before turning 18. The figure fell to 25.3 per cent in Assam, according to NFHS-6 (2023-24). However, the state figure remains above the national prevalence of 20.1 per cent, highlighting the need for sustained intervention at the grassroots level. India Targets Further Reduction by 2026 The Centre has set a target of reducing the prevalence of child marriage in India by 10 per cent by 2026. Continued intervention by governments, civil society organisations and local communities is expected to bring the national prevalence below 15 per cent by the end of this year. The efforts are also linked to the global target of eliminating child marriage by 2030, in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5, Target 5.3, which calls for an end to harmful practices including child, early and forced marriage. With Assam already recording a decline in the prevalence of child marriage and thousands of cases being prevented through coordinated intervention, authorities and child-rights organisations are now focusing on strengthening enforcement, community awareness and early prevention to accelerate the fight against the practice. Also Read: Assam: Two Youths Found Dead in Roadside Drain in Sivasagar