West Bengal is implementing strict measures against teenage marriages and pregnancies, including issuing show-cause notices to husbands and making arrests, as the state leads the nation in these concerning statistics. The government aims to deter underage unions by invoking the POCSO Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with offenders facing legal consequences and the withdrawal of state welfare schemes. This initiative addresses the significant public health implications of teenage pregnancies, such as underweight babies, and aims to protect child welfare across the state.

West Bengal is implementing strict measures against teenage marriages and pregnancies, including issuing show-cause notices to husbands and making arrests, as the state leads the nation in these concerning statistics. The government aims to deter underage unions by invoking the POCSO Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with offenders facing legal consequences and the withdrawal of state welfare schemes. This initiative addresses the significant public health implications of teenage pregnancies, such as underweight babies, and aims to protect child welfare across the state.

West Bengal is implementing strict measures against teenage marriages and pregnancies, including issuing show-cause notices to husbands and making arrests, as the state leads the nation in these concerning statistics. The government aims to deter underage unions by invoking the POCSO Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, with offenders facing legal consequences and the withdrawal of state welfare schemes. This initiative addresses the significant public health implications of teenage pregnancies, such as underweight babies, and aims to protect child welfare across the state.

The West Bengal government is cracking down on teenage marriages and pregnancies, with the state health department issuing show-cause notices to husbands and making arrests as the state tops the list for teenage marriages and teenage pregnancies in the country. In these specific cases, husbands have to prove their wives are above 18 years of age to avoid getting into trouble with the law, including going to jail after suo moto cases are registered. More than 53 per cent of teenage pregnancies in the age group of 15-17 years are from the Muslim community.  

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari cited the data from the health department including birth certificates from hospitals across the state. He also read out the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and the law on marriages below the age of 18 being unlawful. No state welfare schemes will apply to those found guilty. Adhikari, however, clarified that the teenage pregnancy issue was beyond religion. 

“A dangerous statistic has come to our notice that West Bengal tops the list in teenage marriages and teenage pregnancies,” said Adhikari. He directed the state health department to provide detailed data on institutional teenage deliveries recorded over six months, from January 1 to the end of June this year. The children born to teenage mothers were also found to be underweight. Doctors attended to teenage pregnancy cases on humanitarian grounds, said Adhikari.

“There are around 60,000 cases of institutional teenage deliveries, of which Murshidabad district is the highest with around 13,000. We will work on this; for now, the health department will issue show-cause notices to them (husbands). They will have to furnish the date of birth or birth certificate within a month. After that, teenage pregnancies and marriages will be proved. Post that, sections under BNS (Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita) will be applicable. There will be police cases and arrests. Legal action will be taken under the POSCO Act, be it a pandit or a Qazi or anyone else. Central and state social welfare schemes will also be withdrawn,” said Adhikari.  

Murshidabad district recorded the highest number of institutional teenage deliveries, with 12,847 cases, followed by South 24 Parganas with 4,178 and Purba Bardhaman with 3,787.

Other states and regions include: 

Malda – 3,743

West Midnapore – 3,220

Uttar Dinajpur – 2940  

Nadia - 2950

Rampurhat (Birbhum district)– 2391

Purulia – 2116

Bashirhat (North 24 Parganas District)-  2114

North 24 Parganas district – 1986

Coochbehar – 1940

Purba Medinipore – 1884

Birbhum - 1873

Diamond Harbour (South 24 Parganas district) - 1806

Adhikari explained that these figures were coming to the fore as the BJP government is aiming to work for the betterment of the state. He also mentioned that there was no data sent from the state to the Centre during the erstwhile government. Former CM Mamata Banerjee also held the health portfolio in her cabinet during the Trinamool Congress(TMC) regime in West Bengal.   

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