Assam child marriage arrests: Can jailing those violating child marriage laws end the problem?

This is the second episode in the two-part series on the crackdown on child marriages in Assam. Since February 2, the Assam government has arrested more than 3000 people for violating the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006. Some were also arrested under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 or POCSO that can attract punishment up to life imprisonment. 

Suno India’s Menaka Rao spoke to Bharati Ali about the consequences of this kind of punitive action against child marriage, Bharati Ali a child rights activist based in Delhi. She is the executive director of Haq Centre for Child Rights. The organisation has worked on prevention of child marriages at the community level. 

References
THE PROHIBITION OF CHILD MARRIAGE ACT, 2006
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012
Crime in India 2021 | National Crime Records Bureau
GUIDELINES for 'MISSION VATSALYA' Scheme

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