''The Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 effectively deals with the problem of child marriage and has in place a comprehensive mechanism to deal with the menace,'' Mr Lyngdoh said yesterday while inaugurating the Consultant Meet on Marriageable Age.
The department of Social Welfare, he said, has notified the District Social Welfare Officers as Child Marriage Prohibition Officers for effective implementation of the Act and also to create awareness among the public.
Though statistics have shown that there was a trend of child marriage declining, the Social Welfare Minister said it was still difficult to monitor every child.
Recognising that children under 18 years constitute a significant chunk of Indias population, Mr Lyngdoh said the government was committed to the welfare and development of children.
The State Womens Commission, he said, was set up for meaningful redressal of issues concerning girls and women in the state.
National Commission for Women member Wansuk Syiem said child marriage is largely prevalent in the rural areas of the country.
''The State Government should also take the responsibility to educate the masses on the ill-effects of early marriage and its adverse impact on development,'' Ms Syiem said.