Assam Sees 64% Drop in Teenage Pregnancy Amid Child Marriage Crackdown: CM Sarma

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a 64% drop in teenage pregnancies over two years, attributing the decline to the state's stringent drive against child marriage. The findings are backed by an NGO's survey across 3,000 villages. Sarma emphasized ongoing efforts and awaited further assessments for comprehensive data.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced a significant decline of nearly 64 percent in teenage pregnancies over the last two years. This positive change is credited to the state government's rigorous campaign against child marriage.

The data comes from a recent assessment conducted by a national NGO that surveyed 3,000 villages across Assam, focusing on the effectiveness of stringent child marriage laws. 'Our rigorous mission against #ChildMarriage is not only bringing a societal change but also enabling a healthy life for our girls,' Sarma noted in a social media post.

The Chief Minister revealed that teenage pregnancy cases fell from 9,330 in April 2022 to 3,401 in June 2024. Further assessments from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-6, to be released in 2026, will provide more comprehensive insights, Sarma added. The state government has collaborated with the International Institute for Population Sciences for an independent assessment to validate these findings.