Agartala, March 7: Tripura ranks third among Indian states in child marriage prevalence, a pressing issue that the state government is determined to eliminate, Social Education and Social Welfare Minister Tinku Roy announced on Friday.
Speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat in Agartala, a day ahead of International Women’s Day, Roy declared that the state would take an oath to bring child marriage cases down to zero.
“Child marriage remains a serious concern in Tripura. Currently, we rank third in the country, but we are committed to eradicating this practice entirely. From International Women’s Day onwards, our initiative will formally begin,” Roy said.
Reportedly, Tripura records a shocking 40.1% child marriage rate, surpassing the national average of 23.3%. It trails only Bihar (40.8%) and West Bengal (41.6%) but has the highest rate among northeastern states.
Roy added that despite efforts to curb the practice, child marriage remains a challenge.
While across India the prevalence of girls marrying before the age of 18 has dropped from 47% (2005-06) to 27% (2015-16), the figures remain alarmingly high.
As part of International Women’s Day celebrations, the Tripura government will also felicitate women excelling in various fields and contributing significantly to nation-building.
