West Bengal recorded 60,000 underage institutional deliveries in first six months of 2026: CM
Suvendu Adhikari says arrests will made in cases of child marriage, and the benefits of State and Central scheme will be stopped to such families
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari expressed deep concern over the alarming number of underage institutional deliveries in the state during the first six months of 2026. According to the State Health Department, nearly 60,000 underage deliveries occurred, making West Bengal the top-ranking state in the country for both underage marriages and births.
Adhikari highlighted that the previous government had contributed to this trend, and emphasized that the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 prohibit such marriages. He stated that police action would be taken against offenders, particularly husbands, who would need to provide proof of their adulthood within a month or face legal consequences.
The government also threatened to withdraw welfare benefits to families involved in underage marriages. Murshidabad district, in particular, saw a high number of underage deliveries, with 12,847 cases among underage girls. Experts noted that child marriage is a complex issue involving various factors, and cautioned that legal actions against husbands might negatively impact already vulnerable families.
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