Kolkata, Sept. 10 -- After the state reported the highest child marriage rate among major Indian states, the West Bengal government is set to address the issue by formulating a new policy.
The state health department has formed a committee to formulate an SOP to manage teenage pregnancy. The committee will prepare guidelines for the management of both intra-natal and post-natal teenage pregnancy. The first meeting of the new committee may happen at Swasthya Bhawan on September 18.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari recently expressed grave concern over the high prevalence of child marriages resulting in underage pregnancies and deliveries in the State. He had said that the State had recorded nearly 60,000 underage institutional deliveries in the first six months of 2026.
The health department's target is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. Teenage pregnancy is one reason for high maternal and neonatal mortality, said an official. The nine-member committee headed by a professor of community medicine, includes gynaecologists and forensic medicine experts.
West Bengal has the highest child marriage rate among major Indian states, driving a birth rate of nearly 23 per 1,000 for girls aged 15 to 19. Murshidabad, East Burdwan and South 24-Parganas are among the districts where teenage pregnancy is higher. Some districts have reported a high number of underage marriages leading to teenage pregnancy. The department may also issue proper guidelines for hospitals to manage teenage pregnancy for the overall well-being of the mother and infants.
Holding the previous Trinamool Congress government responsible, Adhikari recently stated that state reached number one in two criteria ~ marriage of girls below 18 years of age, and deliveries before 18 years of age.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.