PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF MINORS

DUE TO HIGH RATE OF MATERNAL AND INFANT MORTALITY, WITH CHILD MARRIAGE BEING THE PRIMARY CAUSE, THE ASSAM GOVERNMENT IS TAKING ACTION AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE VIOLATING THE LAW. NOTABLY, ASSAM'S TOTAL FERTILITY RATE(TFR) IS 1.9 PER CENT, BELOW THE NATIONAL AVERAGE OF 2. HOWEVER, THE TFR AMONG MUSLIM WOMEN IS 2.4, WHICH IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY

- DIBYA KAMAL BORDOLOI

Every year, when Assam tops the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) in the country, Opposition parties like Congress and AIUDF never wait to criticise the State Government. But the Opposition does not try to visualise and analyse the root cause of the high MMR in this North Eastern State. It has been proven that child marriage and teenage pregnancy are prime reasons for the high MMR in the State.

SAVING DAUGHTERS

On January 23, 2023, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma-led Assam Government had decided to act against the social evil of child marriage. According to the 2011 census, 44 per cent of women in Assam were married before 18, most of whom were illegal Muslim migrants.

Justifying the ongoing legal drive against child marriage in Assam, Dr Sarma said, "Shall I allow my daughter to get married at 12-13? A generation will have to suffer this pain to save lakhs of girls from the evil of child marriage."