No cases under Child Marriage Act in Assam in last three years

"In last three years not even a single case has been registered under the Act. Even in 2007 and 2008, there was only one single case each year," Assam Police Additional DGP (CID) Mukesh Sahay said addressing a workshop on 'Child Marriage in Assam' organised by the Law Research Institute of Gauhati High Court.

He said child marriage was prevalent in the state, but complaints were not registered.

"Even across India, the numbers are negligible and not more than hundred such cases are registered in a year. This is not surprising," Sahay said.

"Registration of such cases depend on the victims having a feeling of being wronged and of their having easy access to the redressal system. When in both counts the conditions are not fulfilled, people do not complain," he said.

According to UNICEF data, Assam ranked 13th among all states in 2007-08 with a child marriage rate of 39.9 per cent among girls compared to the national average of 42 per cent.

Eight districts in Assam -- Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Karimganj, Baksa, Dhemaji, Nagaon and Karbi Anglong -- have child marriage rates above the national average.

Sahay said that besides dealing with cases of child marriage in a legal way, efforts should also be made to engage community elders and strictly implement provisions of the Right to Education Act. MORE