National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Priyank Kanoongo on Friday reiterated his support for the Assam government’s action in the state against child marriages and suggested other states to adopt such measures. This comes in the backdrop of reports of pregnant girls under 18 preferring to deliver their children amid fears of their fathers and husbands getting arrested under the state government’s ongoing crackdown against child marriage.
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“Action taken by Assam government against child marriages should be followed by other states as well. The government constituting a panel to frame policy to rehabilitate child marriage victims is a welcome step,” Kanoongo was quotes as saying by news agency ANI.
The state government has formed a sub-committee to frame policy to rehabilitate victims after it launched a drive to arrest male members in connection with child marriage. So far around 2,700 arrests have been made. Citing the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) report, Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma earlier claimed that around 17% of total 6.2 lakh pregnant women in the state were teenagers.
“The drive against this social evil will continue. We seek the support of the people of Assam in our fight against this social crime,” Sarma tweeted.
Kanoongo earlier rejected claims made by the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) that the state government’s drive against child marriage is being carried out without any framed rules.
Also read: Assam girl dies during delivery; Husband, father arrested for child marriage
“NCPCR has appreciated Assam’s government initiative against adults involved in child marriages and we also expect other states to take similar steps. AIUDF’s statement that the Assam government didn’t frame rules is foolish,” he said earlier.
