Assam Child Marriages: A Mega Crackdown

On January 23, the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led BJP government in Assam launched a massive crackdown against child marriages.

- Kaushik Deka

Since then, nearly 3,000 people have been arrested based on over 4,000 FIRS registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act (PCMA), 2006, against those involved in or facilitating child marriages. The government blitz has resulted in extreme reactions in some cases. A widow, who had been married off as a minor, died by suicide fearing her father's arrest, while another minor girl took the extreme step as her parents, to avoid legal repercussions, didn't let her marry her lover. Women also staged protests in front of a detention camp where arrested husbands and fathers have been held, asking how the families will survive now that breadwinners had been put behind bars.

In the political debate that has ensued, opposition parties have slammed the government overenthusiasm, calling it inhuman. Also, since the crackdown is affecting Muslim-dominated districts-14 out of 31 in the state-many are criticising it as a targeted action against Muslims. While the Congress questioned the BJP-led government's failure to act against agencies that are tasked with protecting child rights, All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) general secretary Aminul Islam claimed that the rules to implement PCMA have not been framed by the state yet. Meanwhile, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi asked who will take care of the girls left in the lurch. "You [the Assam government have already booked 4,000 cases and are in the process of booking another 4,000. Why are they not opening new schools?" he said.