Whenever Ruksana Begum (name changed) recalls her 15th birthday, it’s not the celebration rather the determined steps taken by her parents deciding not to marry her off, that stands out as an abiding memory of the day.
“My father is a daily wage labourer. Even in the midst of financial difficulties, he always encouraged me to study. A few years back, just before my 15th birthday, a marriage proposal came from a family who claimed that their boy was doing very well, professionally. My parents, however, decided against it. They said that I was underaged and marriage can wait,” Ruksana recalled while talking to Asom Barta.
Ruksana’s story is one of thousands that reflect the sweeping transformation underway in Assam, which recorded the sharpest decline in child marriage across India, according to a new report by the Centre for Legal Action and Behaviour Change for Children (C-LAB).
The report, titled “Tipping Point to Zero: Evidence Towards a Child Marriage Free India,” revealed that between April 2022 and March 2025, Assam achieved an 84 per cent drop in child marriages among girls and an astounding 91 per cent decline among boys.
Nationally, the decline stood at 69 per cent among girls and 72 per cent among boys, meaning Assam has surpassed the country’s average by a wide margin.
According to the report, one of the strongest drivers of this progress is strict legal enforcement. The State Government’s “zero tolerance” policy has turned legal deterrence into a cornerstone of its campaign.
Police complaints, mass awareness drives, community tip-offs, and visible arrests of offenders have sent a clear message: Child marriage will not be tolerated.
“Legal deterrence works only when law enforcement is backed by community trust and awareness,” the report noted. It found that complaints filed by community members surged fivefold during the survey period, showing that citizens are no longer silent witnesses.
Beyond legal measures, economic empowerment schemes have played a crucial supporting role. The flagship Nijut Moina 2.0 programme—launched by the Assam Government—has provided financial assistance to thousands of girls continuing their education after secondary school.
Sharing the news, Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma posted in X, “Assam’s relentless fight against Child Marriage is bearing fruits as it marked the steepest drop in child marriage in India. On Navratri, as we celebrate the divine power of Maa Durga,we remain committed to protect & nurture our daughters’ future. The stats speak for themselves!”
The Chief Minister Office, meanwhile added and posted in X, “Assam is setting a benchmark in the fight against child marriage recording the sharpest decline in the country. This progress reflects a growing commitment to protect the rights and futures of girls. Not just numbers – a shift towards lasting change.”
In the last two-and-a-half years, Assam has brought the dream of a child marriage-free State closer to reality. Villages and hamlets that once witnessed frequent underage marriages now celebrating studying and other activities.
Meanwhile, Ruksana has added new wings to her dreams. She tells this reporter that she wants to pursue law so as to help and aid the Government in fighting injustice. “If our Government can stop this injustice, maybe I can help too.”
C-LAB had surveyed 150 villages across Assam besides engaging frontline service providers such as ASHA, Anganwadi workers, school teachers, auxiliary nurse midwives, Panchayat Raj Institution members, etc., for its study.
