‘Women’s education, livelihood way to end child marriage’

Kin gather outside Mayong police station, in Assam, on Feb 4. FIle pic

The recent arrests of over 3,000 people allegedly involved in child marriages in Assam has created a divide in the civil society, with a section asserting that mere law enforcement cannot be the solution. Human rights lawyer Debasmita Ghosh said that once a marriage is consummated, the law considers it to be valid and children born out of such unions enjoy all legal rights.

Besides, the law was enacted in 2006 and the name itself suggests marriages should be ‘prohibited' but why was it not done so by agencies responsible for it, she questioned. Eminent academician Manorama Sarma said child marriages must end but this is a social evil, not a law and order problem. "Taking care of women's education, health facilities and access to livelihood is the way to end it and not by implementing a law retrospectively. It should be strictly implemented prospectively."

Also read: Need efforts to put an end to child marriage

Child rights activist Miguel Das Queah said, "The state government definitely wanted to send out a strong message that child marriages must stop, but it should have taken into consideration the protests that would take place following such action." A long-term sustained campaign is required to eradicate the menace of child marriage, he said. Assam State Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Sunita Changkakoti said, "We have initiated awareness campaigns and asked authorities to register a few cases to send a message."

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