Guwahati, July 23: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has commended the crucial role of Self-Help Group (SHG) members in combating child marriage, highlighting their significant contributions through a post on the microblogging site X. Sarma described the 40 lakh SHG members as “true ambassadors of women empowerment,” emphasizing their impact on social welfare initiatives.
“Our Nari Shakti is at the forefront of furthering our social welfare initiatives,” Sarma stated. He praised the SHG members for their grassroots efforts in leading the fight against child marriage through innovative campaigns and community engagement.
The Assam State Rural Livelihood Mission, bolstered by the efforts of 4 million rural women, has introduced a new social security initiative aimed at preventing child marriage. This initiative involves raising awareness through street plays and campaigns organized by the Women Protection Cell and Gender Research Centre.
Key measures of the initiative include re-enrolling children in school and offering skill enhancement opportunities to prevent early dropouts. Additionally, the ‘Ejupi Gos’ initiative encourages families to celebrate the birth of girl children by gifting saplings. SHG members are also educating families about beneficial schemes such as ‘Sukanya Samriddhi,’ further supporting their efforts in combating child marriage.