Guwahati: At least 900 charge sheets have been filed in last month’s crackdown against child marriage, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday.

While speaking at the state legislative assembly, Sarma informed that over one thousand people are still in custody out of 4,363 cases of child marriage since February 3.

Replying to a question from Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha in the state assembly, Sarma said, “His government has taken a series of measures to end the menace.”

Chief minister further added, “Child marriage must be ended in Assam by 2026. Our government will take strong action to end Child Marriage.”

“BJP led government has allocated Rs 200 crore for it in this budget so that we can appoint a special advocate against each Child Marriage case,” Sarma.

Every 2-3 months, we will launch an operation against Child Marriage in the state and arrest people, Sarma stated.

“The husband of the girl who bears the burden of motherhood under the age of 14, our government will ensure that he will face jail term of 14 years,” Sarma stated.

However, soon we will open a helpline number, Sarma added. He further said that his government has also taken initiative to aware people of the menace.

Our government will work towards the victim’s rehabilitation by offering scholarships, free schooling, and free rice schemes. When it comes to child marriage, we shouldn’t compromise. We adhere to the law, Sarma said.

According to the state government, 50 persons were arrested in the state in 2017 under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006, while 106 persons were arrested in 2018, 156 persons in 2019, 216 in 2020, 166 in 2021, 257 in 2022, and 3,098 in first two months of this year.

On the other hand, 932 persons were arrested in the state in 2017 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 (POCSO), while 1393 persons were arrested in 2018, 1428 in 2019, 1471 in 2020, 1500 in 2021, 1537 in 2022 and 647 in first two months of 2023.