West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announced strict action against child marriages, ordering house-to-house drives to identify underage marriages and pregnancies. The government will invoke the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act and POCSO Act against offenders. Murshidabad recorded the highest number of institutional births involving underage girls between January and June.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced dire consequences for those who are involved in child marriages in the state.
Action against child marriages
Addressing a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna after a cabinet meeting, Adhikari slammed the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government and said that during the previous regime Bengal had become first in child marriage and underage deliveries.
The West Bengal Chief Minister had also ordered house-to-house drives to identify underage marriages and pregnancies in the state.
“Irrespective of any religions, the state government would invoke the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and the POCSO Act against those marrying minors and also against those who are solemnising such marriages. In between January 1 to June 30 nearly 60,000 institutional deliveries were done involving underage girls,” said Adhikari.