SabkaSath, Sabka Vikas Assam Style

Chief Minister of Assam HimantaBiswaSarma has launched a campaign against child marriage but with a vengeance. The last one week witnessed filing of about 4,000 FIRs against those who married girls under the age of 18. Latest reports indicate that up to now more than 2,800 persons, including about 80 women have been arrested. The…

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Chief Minister of Assam HimantaBiswaSarma has launched a campaign against child marriage but with a vengeance. The last one week witnessed filing of about 4,000 FIRs against those who married girls under the age of 18. Latest reports indicate that up to now more than 2,800 persons, including about 80 women have been arrested. The indiscriminate arrests, overwhelmingly in Muslim areas, have created widespread fear and havoc. The CM said that he is resorting to this high handed tactic to improve the lives of the girls who are becoming mothers before they are able to shoulder the responsibilities of motherhood. Besides, he has explained, that he wants to bring down the maternity mortality rate (MMR) of Assam. It should be the concern of the whole nation that MMR and child mortality rate should be reduced to the utmost low level. But resorting to coercive laws and intimidation and indiscriminate arrests may prove to be counterproductive.

The Chief Minister has also said that the campaign and the arrests will continue up to next State elections in 2026. One fails to understand the link between the campaign and the elections. Some observers comment that this campaign is a peculiar aspect of Hindutva ideology which is based not on genuine welfare of the people but on the basis of Hindu-Muslim divide. The whole strategy of the Hindutva party is divide and rule. That is why they openly speak in the terms of 80 versus 20 (as openly propagated in the last Assembly elections in UP), and 70 versus 30 as was described in Bengal elections.

Having failed in providing good governance, sustainable development and jobs to the increasing numbers of youth who are coming out of educational institutions, Hindu versus Muslim appears to be the most convenient bid for the ruling party. It is unfortunate that they do not recognise the damage the communal divide will do permanently to the future of the country.

Experienced observers feel that the Adani episode and the mortgaging of the country’s economic future to a few capitalists and the escalating frustration among the poor who are being crushed under the burden of inflation and unemployment are also behind this coercive campaign in Assam.

India can hear the hue and cry of the people of Assam who are being treated as criminals. Reports are pouring in how pregnant women below the age of 18 are hiding and cancelling visits to health centres to avoid being arrested. If they are not arrested, their husbands or fathers would be arrested and thrown behind the bars. Besides this, they have to pay heavy bribes to the corrupt policemen. Reports of some women even committing suicides to escape arrest and torture and prolonged trouble to their guardians are also appearing in the media.

Instead of resorting to coercive methods, the Assam government should think about opening schools and providing facilities for the education of girls. Assam is one of the most illiterate states. The 2011 census indicates that the literacy in Assam is one of the lowest, about 73 per cent. Let good sense dawn upon the Assam government so that the poor people of that State, who are suffering from poverty, illiteracy and atrocities may enjoy at least some peace and tranquillity. Let us hope that human rights organisations and the judiciary will take notice of the state of affairs in Assam.