The Assam model for combating child marriage has gained national attention and may soon be adopted across all National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-ruled states. This development comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged officials from NDA-governed states to study Assam’s approach in depth. The directive followed a presentation by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during the Chief Ministers’ Conclave held recently in New Delhi.

According to Sarma, his presentation on Assam’s strategy to tackle child marriage was met with widespread appreciation at the conclave. Following the positive response, Prime Minister Modi encouraged other NDA states to send their officials to Assam to understand the implementation and effectiveness of the model. PM Modi further advised all NDA-ruled states to take inspiration from Assam’s initiative and replicate the same model to address the issue of child marriage in their respective regions.

Child marriage has long been a significant social issue in Assam. Data from the National Family Health Survey-V (2019–21) indicates that 31.8% of women aged 20–24 in Assam were married before the legal age of 18, which is notably higher than the national average of 23.3%. Recognizing the severity of the issue, the Assam government under Sarma launched a major crackdown in 2022.

The initiative was a multifaceted campaign combining strict legal enforcement with extensive public awareness programs. The Assam government’s approach included identifying vulnerable areas, arresting those involved in facilitating child marriages, and launching education drives to inform communities about the legal and health consequences of early marriage. This shift marked a significant turning point in the state's efforts to eliminate the practice.

The results of Assam’s actions have been remarkable. A report released in 2024 by India Child Protection (ICP) highlighted that child marriage cases across 20 districts in Assam dropped by 81% between 2021–22 and 2023–24. This dramatic reduction underscores the effectiveness of the model, which is being lauded as a success story and a template for nationwide implementation.

The model’s success has not gone unnoticed at the national level. Priyank Kanoongo, Chairperson of the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), praised Assam’s initiative, stating that it had provided a path forward for the rest of the country. He emphasized that the coordinated combination of legal action and awareness efforts in Assam has set a new standard for how to address social evils like child marriage.

With growing interest from the central government and other states, Assam’s model could soon be adopted on a wider scale, forming the basis for a unified national campaign against child marriage. If implemented effectively, this could lead to a significant nationwide reduction in child marriages, improving the lives and futures of countless young girls.