Uttam Paul, a resident of Rukni Part IV village in Cachar, beams with pride as he reflects on the remarkable transformation his village has undergone. Born and brought up in a remote area with limited access to education and healthcare, he witnessed the widespread practice of child marriage. However, today, Rukni Part IV stands as a shining example of change, recently declared a child marriage-free village.
“Since 2022, we, along with the Developmental Block, Gaon Panchayat, and District Administration, have been working relentlessly to eradicate child marriage from our society,” Uttam says while speaking to Asom Barta. “We have organised numerous awareness meetings, visited every household and spoke about the ill effects of child marriage.”
A focus on educating girls was the prime focus of their mission, “I am truly happy that our hard work has borne fruit. People understood the importance of this cause because of which Rukni Part IV is now free from child marriage.”
Uttam credits the success to both the local community and the unwavering support of authorities. “Officials of Gaon Panchayat and the district administration played a significant role in encouraging and assisting us,” he says.
Rukni Part IV under Palonghat Development Block, has a population of over 2000. It is one of four villages recently recognized as child marriage-free. The others include Bhairabpur Part-I (Kalain Development Block), Rosekandy Grant-I, and Rosekandy Grant-II (Tapang Development Block).
This achievement is a direct result of a comprehensive initiative led by Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has made eradication of child marriage, a central pillar of his vision for Assam’s women and children’s welfare.
In 2023, the Governor of Assam appointed Gaon Panchayat secretaries as Child Marriage Prohibition Officers under Section 16 of “The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.”
Ranjit Sana Rajkumar, secretary of Darmikhal GP under Palonghat Development Block, says, “The officials of Gaon Panchayat have worked continuously under consistent monitoring and guidance. The willingness of every villager has been essential to this success.”
Zahid Hussain Hazarika, Block Development Officer of Tapang Development Block, which oversees Rosekandy Grant-I and II, emphasizes the importance of a collaborative approach, “We worked closely with local police stations and held awareness meetings. Self-Help Groups also played a proactive role in educating the community and monitoring the situation.”
Hazarika adds, “Child Marriage was mostly practiced by the uneducated people. Educating them was the need of the hour. Our collaborative efforts have resulted in zero cases of child marriage in two villages under my block.”
Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma lauded the achievements & posted on X, “Assam has taken a firm stance against child marriage. We are putting the last nail in the coffin of this social evil across the state. Leading by example, four villages in Cachar have been declared child marriage-free, ensuring a bright future for our girls.”
The Chief Minister also highlighted initiatives such as the Nijut Moina scheme and the Assam Compulsory Registration of Muslim Marriages and Divorces Act, 2024, which have contributed to this success.
Dhanjit Choudhary, District Child Protection Officer of Cachar, while celebrating the milestone says, “Child marriage is a social evil which destroys the society. The sharp decline in child marriages reflects progress at the grassroots level.”
Assam has taken significant steps to combat child marriage. Since last year, 5,842 cases have been registered, and 5,348 individuals have been arrested in three special drives aimed at eradicating child marriage across the State.
