Assam budget Has Special Allocation For Crackdown On Child Marriage

The Himanta Biswa Sarma government is conducting a controversial campaign against child marriage

The Assam government has made special budgetary allocation to battle child marriage in the state in the state budget tabled today. Assam Finance minister Ajanta Neogi's budget has allocated Rs 200 crore for special measures to stop child marriages. The money has been allocated to the Women and Child Development Department, which will spearhead the campaign.

All gram panchayat secretaries in the state are being designated as Child Marriage Prevention Officers. The district police will continue intensive drives every six months. There will be a Call Centre to monitor complaints.

Last month, 3,483 people were arrested across the state, around 1,000 are still in jail, having been unable to get bail.

The Himanta Biswa Sarma government had conducted a controversial crackdown on child marriages last month and the budget indicates that it is a top agenda. Mr Sarma has said his government had tried to ensure that the crackdown was not communal and equal proportions of Muslims and Hindus were arrested.