64 percent drop in teenage pregnancies from April 2022 to June 2024 in Assam, says CM Sarma

Digital Desk: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday took to X to spotlight the commendable achievements of the state’s campaign against child marriage. According to Sarma, this initiative has catalyzed profound societal shifts and enhanced health outcomes for young girls.

Chief Minister unveiled a significant decline in teenage pregnancies over the past two years. In April 2022, Assam recorded 9,330 teenage pregnancies. By June 2024, this figure had plummeted to 3,401, representing a remarkable reduction of nearly 64%. This decrease underlines the effectiveness of the state's efforts in combating child marriage and its related consequences.

Expressing pride in the strides made, Sarma reiterated the government's unwavering commitment to this mission. "Our rigorous mission against #ChildMarriage is not only bringing a societal change but also enabling a healthy life for our girls," he stated.

Earlier, Sarma emphasized that the government's crackdown on child marriages would persist, with a special drive against this social evil planned every six months. He has directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to conduct a preliminary survey in preparation for the next round of action towards the year-end.

Sarma's statements followed an NGO report released on Wednesday, which highlighted the decline in child marriage cases due to the government's stringent measures. "Our campaign and tough action against child marriage will continue. Every six months, a special drive will be conducted, and the DGP has been instructed to conduct a preliminary survey for the next crackdown on child marriages in November-December this year," Sarma affirmed in a video message on Wednesday evening.

Despite initial resistance to the crackdown, Sarma noted a positive shift in attitudes. People are now proactively preventing child marriages, even in minority communities. The Chief Minister hailed the data from the India Child Protection (ICP) report as a "testament to our sustained efforts in empowering Nari Shakti (women power)."

Assam's battle against child marriage stands as a beacon of hope, showcasing the transformative impact of determined governance and community engagement in safeguarding the future of young girls.