Guwahati, Dec 24: As 2023 draws to a close, Assam was the centre for a lot of important events and developments from the north eastern region. The Assam government launched a massive crackdown against child marriage in the state. The government also took firm decision towards banning polygamy in the state. In another important development for the first time, Assam hosted G-20 summit successfully. MV Ganga Vilas, world’s longest motor vessel river cruise, travelling long distance reached Assam.

Massive crackdown against child marriage:

The Assam government’s crackdown, in two phases, on child marriage in February and October led to nearly 5,500 arrests, mostly in districts dominated by the minority community.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the driving force behind these initiatives, declared his commitment to eliminating this social menace by 2026. Furthermore, all gram panchayat secretaries were designated as child marriage prevention officers to ensure comprehensive enforcement.

Assam Govt to bring law to ban polygamy:

The state government is likely to introduce a Bill in the state assembly in January-February 2024 to ban polygamy. Polygamy is the practice of marrying more than one person (multiple spouses). The Chief Minister said that the measure would include certain provisions aimed at putting an end to love jihad within the state. Officials reported that in response to a public notice seeking comments on the proposed law prohibiting the practice of multiple marriages, the state administration had received as many as 14 recommendations.

August 21, the state administration published a notice asking for public input about the prohibition of polygamy. The notification asked people of Assam to send in their opinions via mail or email by August 30.

G-20 meeting in Assam:

It was one of the most significant developments that took centre stage in the state this year. More than 100 delegates, including 95 foreign officials comprising representatives of G-20 nations, guest countries and international organisations assembled in Guwahati for the first time. During the SFWG meeting, four sessions was held while the visiting delegates were taken on a cruise on the Brahmaputra river. The event hosted key panel discussions on the topics including ‘Future of work: Twenty first century skills’, ‘Climate change’, ‘Making sustainability a way of life’, and ‘Peace building and reconciliation,’ at IIT Guwahati.

MV Ganga Vilas, world’s longest river cruise, reached Assam:

On February 28, the world’s longest river cruise MV Ganga Vilas reached Assam’s Dibrugarh, concluding its 50-day river journey that began from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. On January 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had flagged off the cruise from Varanasi. Built with a unique design and a futuristic vision, the cruise has three decks and 18 suites on board with a capacity of 36 tourists. It is already booked for to and fro journey for the next two years. The seamless movement of MV Ganga Vilas has established the viability of seamless movement of vessels between Ganga Valley and Brahmaputra Valley; i.e., from Varanasi to Dibrugarh via Kolkata using the IBPR. For the Northeast India, the major highlight of MV Ganga Vilas’s successful voyage is the opportunity to use the inland waterways to reach the sea ports and access to the world of international trade routes.

Also Read: Assam: DGP GP Singh takes aim at ULFA-I, vows to safeguard state

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