Guwahati: Assam Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma used the state’s startling 16.8% teenage pregnancy rate to support his government’s harsh anti-child marriage policies.
He claimed that of the 6.2 lakh pregnancies reported by pregnant women from January to December of last year, 1.04 lakh, or 16.8%, involved young mothers. According to the CM, who cited statistics from the RCH webpage, they were pregnant at 19 or earlier.
With a ratio of 28.7%, the Barpeta district had the highest rate of teenage pregnancies. The similar statistics for the Goalpara, South Salmara, and Dhubri districts were, respectively, 24.1% and 27.9%. In lower Assam, all three of these districts are home to minorities.
“Our drive against child marriage is for public health & public welfare as teenage pregnancy ratio in Assam is quite alarming – 16.8%. We’re resolved to continue this drive until we fulfil our objective. I urge the people to cooperate with us in controlling this harmful trend,” Himanta tweeted.