Agartala, July 18: In a major move to combat child marriage, Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha announced that the state government is actively considering making marriage registration mandatory for all social weddings. The proposal aims to enforce existing laws on legal marriage age and ensure better monitoring through official documentation.
Addressing a government programme in Gandhigram, West Tripura, on Thursday, CM Saha said, “The government is contemplating the introduction of pre-marriage registration for all social marriages. We will also explore necessary legal provisions to make this initiative effective. Submission of birth certificates will be made mandatory as part of the registration process.”
Highlighting the significance of birth certificates, he added, “Once birth certificates are made a required document, the actual age of the bride and groom will be clearly revealed, helping us prevent underage marriages.”
Under current laws in India, the legal age for marriage is 18 years for women and 21 years for men. However, despite these legal provisions, child marriage continues to be a concern in many parts of the country — including Tripura.
According to 2020 data from Tripura’s Social Education and Social Welfare Department, the state ranks third in India for child marriages, trailing only behind West Bengal and Bihar. This data has raised alarms and prompted the government to take stricter preventive steps.
CM Saha emphasized that the state is committed to eradicating child marriage and ensuring the protection and well-being of children. “Child marriage not only deprives children of their rights but also puts their education, health, and future at risk. We must take strict and practical steps to end this social evil,” he stated.
The proposed measures are expected to be part of a broader child welfare and women empowerment framework being developed by the state. The government will likely hold consultations with stakeholders before finalizing the implementation strategy for mandatory marriage registration across Tripura.
