Assam’s Child Marriage Crackdown: Strong Action, Hard Questions

Child marriage is a crime. Let me say that first, clearly, so nobody misunderstands me.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said more than 560 people have been arrested in the ongoing crackdown on child marriage. He said the operation will continue until this “social menace” is completely eradicated from the state.

Why I support the goal

A girl of 14 or 15 should be in school. She should be dreaming about becoming a teacher, a doctor, a collector. She should not be carrying a baby when she is still a child herself.

I have seen in our own villages how early marriage cuts a girl’s life short. Her studies stop. Her health suffers. Her voice in the family becomes small. So when a government says it will fight this, my heart says yes.

But my mind asks questions

Arrests are the easiest part of any campaign. They make headlines. They show strength.

But what happens after the arrest? If a husband or father is jailed, who feeds the family? Often the young girl, who we wanted to protect, ends up even more helpless. With no income, no support, and a social stigma on top.

That is why I believe punishment alone cannot solve a social problem.

What actually works

From what I have seen, three things change minds:

Education. Keep girls in school. Give scholarships, cycles, hostels. When a girl is studying, families delay marriage on their own.

Money. Poverty pushes early marriage. Schemes that reward families for keeping daughters in school till 18 work better than fear.

Awareness. Village elders, priests and community leaders must be part of the change. When the respected voices say no, people listen.

The political angle

Of course, there is politics here too. Critics say such drives sometimes target certain communities more than others. Supporters say the law is the law, for everyone.

I believe the law must be applied equally. If it is seen as selective, it loses moral power. And then a good cause becomes a political fight.

My feeling

I respect strong leadership. Assam is taking this seriously, and other states should also take child marriage seriously. But strength must come with compassion. Jail the ones who knowingly exploit children, yes. But also hold the hand of the girl and her mother. Make sure she goes back to school, not into darkness.

A society is judged by how it treats its daughters. Let us be judged well.

Do you think arrests will stop child marriage, or do we need a different approach? Write to me.