The report, titled ‘Towards Justice: Ending Child Marriage’, was released in New Delhi on World Day for International Justice (17 July).
Key highlights:
Reduction in Child Marriages:
Legal interventions by the Assam government have led to an 81% reduction in child marriages in the state, according to the report by the child rights organization India Child Protection.
The report shows an 81% decrease in child marriage cases across 20 districts of Assam between 2021-22 and 2023-24.
Significant Findings:
Data for the report was gathered from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and surveys conducted in 1,132 villages across 20 districts in Assam, covering a total population of 21 lakh, including 8 lakh children.
The crackdown on child marriages by the Assam government has led to the complete eradication of child marriage in 30% of the villages and a significant decline in 40% of the villages.
Perceptions of Legal Action:
In 12 out of the 20 districts, over 90% of respondents believe that legal actions such as arrests and filing FIRs are effective in addressing child marriage.
According to Bhuwan Ribhu, founder of Child Marriage Free India (CMFI), 98% of people in Assam believe that prosecution is key to ending child marriage.
Role of Legal Action:
The report emphasizes that legal action serves as a powerful public awareness tool to deter child marriage.
Assam's model to end child marriages is seen as a blueprint for other states in India.
Challenges:
In 2022, only 181 out of 3,563 child marriage cases listed for trial in courts were concluded, indicating a pendency rate of 92%.
At the current trial completion rate, it may take 19 years to clear the backlog of 3,365 cases across the country.
Key recommendations from the report:
Creation of Fast-Track Courts: The report recommends establishing fast-track courts to address the backlog of child marriage cases more efficiently.
Increased Punishments: It suggests that punishments for those involved in facilitating child marriages—such as parents, guardians, or panchayats who have given an undertaking—should be doubled and treated as equivalent to criminal conspiracy for rape.
(Note: Refer topic 12 Current Affairs April issue)
