Assam Govt Appoints District Child Protection Officers to Tackle Child Marriage

In a significant step towards curbing the menace of child marriage, the Assam Government has designated all District Child Protection Officers (DCPOs) across the state as Child Marriage Prohibition Officers (CMPOs) with immediate effect.

The notification, issued in continuation of an earlier order dated February 23, 2016 (No. SWD.96/2004/198), empowers the DCPOs under Section 16 of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 (PCMA) to carry out duties aimed at preventing, reporting, and acting against cases of child marriage in their respective districts.

As per the government directive, the newly designated CMPOs will perform all responsibilities listed under Sub-section 3 of Section 16 of the PCMA, 2006, which include preventing child marriages, collecting evidence for prosecution, and creating awareness about the law.

In addition to their duties under the PCMA, the officers will also function in accordance with Section 3 of the Assam Prohibition of Child Marriage Rules, 2015, as notified by the state government on November 2, 2015 (Notification No. SWD.96/04/192).

Importantly, CMPOs have also been authorized to lodge FIRs under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 (amended in 2019) or under the PCMA, 2006, depending on the nature of the offence.

This move supplements the existing network of enforcement officers in the state. Earlier, Gram Panchayat Secretaries in general areas and Lat Mandals (Patwaries in Dima Hasao district) in Sixth Schedule areas were designated for similar responsibilities.

The state government has directed all CMPOs to maintain close coordination with each other and with other relevant functionaries to ensure effective enforcement of the law against child marriages across Assam.

Also Read: Guwahati Police Foil Child Marriage Attempt, Rescue Kidnapped Minor