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Assam launches intensive drive to make 30 high-risk districts child-marriage free within a year
Assam has launched an accelerated plan to end child marriage in 30 high-risk districts within a year, aligning with India's goal of becoming child-marriage free by 2030. The initiative is part of the national Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign and the wider Just Rights for Children (JRC) effort to make one lakh villages child-marriage free.
Assam has announced an ambitious push to eliminate child marriage across 30 high-risk districts within the next year, aligning with India's national target of becoming child-marriage free by 2030. The initiative forms part of a nationwide effort led by Just Rights for Children (JRC), which aims to transform one lakh villages across India into child-marriage-free zones.
The announcement coincides with the first anniversary of the Government of India's Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat campaign, launched last year with a 100-day action plan to accelerate progress against child marriage.
JRC — a coalition of over 250 NGOs, including eight in Assam — reported that it prevented 10,114 child marriages in the state over the past year. Nationally, the network has stopped more than one lakh such cases in the same period, and over 4.35 lakh between April 2023 and November 2025, using its 3P framework of Protection, Prevention and Prosecution.
Assam continues to report one of the highest child-marriage prevalence rates in the country. According to NFHS-5 (2019–21), 31.8% of women aged 20–24 in the state were married before 18, compared to the national average of 23.3%. Dhubri district leads with over 50%, while South Salmara-Mankachar, Darrang, Nagaon, Goalpara, Bongaigaon and Barpeta exceed 40%. Eight districts fall between 30–39.9%, and ten more between 23–29.9%.
Calling for united community action, JRC founder Bhuwan Ribhu said the progress made so far demonstrates the transformative power of collective effort. “When society comes together, change is inevitable,” he said. “Next year, together we pledge to make one lakh villages child-marriage free so that every child has opportunities and a secure future. We are confident we can eliminate child marriage from the country within the next three years.”
Marking one year of Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched a new 100-day intensive campaign concluding on International Women's Day, 8 March 2026. The plan will be executed at state, district and village levels in three phases: awareness in educational institutions, mobilisation through religious places and marriage-related service providers, and enhanced engagement with gram panchayats and municipal wards.
Following the directive, the Assam Government has instructed officials across key departments, including Health and Family Welfare, Panchayati Raj, Rural Development, School Education and Higher Education, to actively participate and intensify efforts under the campaign.
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Source: EconomicTimes
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