The India Village Where You Can Rent a Wife.

The India Village Where You Can Rent a Wife

While India progresses towards women's empowerment, certain regions still harbor shocking practices that degrade and exploit women. One of the most disturbing rituals is found in a village in Madhya Pradesh, known as Dhadicha Pratha. This tradition involves renting women as wives, a practice that underscores the patriarchal and inhumane treatment of women in parts of India.

What is Dhadicha Pratha?

Understanding the Custom

Dhadicha Pratha, practiced in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh, involves renting wives. Every year, a market is set up where families rent their daughters or wives to men. This practice is astonishingly voluntary, with parents and guardians willingly participating. Married men also rent their wives to wealthy businessmen who lack partners. The agreements are often sealed with minimal financial exchange, sometimes as low as 10, 50, or 100 rupees. Annually, thousands of such deals are finalized, highlighting the pervasive nature of this practice.

The Impact of Female Infanticide

The declining female sex ratio due to female infanticide has left many men in regions like Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh without brides. As a result, they turn to renting or buying women from impoverished areas in Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Assam, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar. Financial desperation and the desire to avoid hefty dowries drive families to rent or sell their daughters, facilitated by brokers who take a significant portion of the money.

How Are the Girls Priced?

Pricing the Brides

In the Dhadicha Pratha, virgin girls aged 8 to 15 are preferred over married women. The price of a bride depends on the rental period, which can range from hours to years. Deals typically range from 15,000 to 25,000 rupees, but the price can escalate to 200,000 rupees for younger, more attractive, and virgin girls. Non-virgin girls are priced between 10,000 and 15,000 rupees, based on factors like age, skin color, and previous sexual history.

The Horrors Faced by the Girls

The Reality of Rented Brides

The most horrific aspect of Dhadicha Pratha is the exploitation of young girls, some as young as six. They are often given drugs to enhance their physical appearance to fetch higher prices. Once rented, these girls are married off for a specified period and referred to as "Paro" or "Molki," meaning those with a price. They endure daily sexual abuse, not only from their husbands but also from multiple men in the household, including fathers-in-law. This continuous cycle of exploitation reduces their status to mere objects for sexual gratification and income generation for their families.

Health and Psychological Impact

The repeated exploitation leads to severe physical, mental, and sexual abuse. Many girls contract deadly diseases like HIV, AIDS, and Hepatitis B. The psychological trauma of being treated as commodities leaves deep scars, often leading to lifelong emotional distress.

Stories of Pain and Survival

Voices of the Victimized

Many women who have suffered through this ordeal have begun to speak out. Reshma, rented at eight years old, endured rape by her husband and his brother until she was rented to nine different men. Mahira was bought for 80,000 rupees and attacked when she tried to escape. Saiba, rented by her brother, was forced to sleep with multiple men. These stories highlight the unimaginable suffering these girls endure and the need for urgent intervention.

Are There Any Actions Taken Against This Practice?

Legal and Social Response

Despite its long existence, Dhadicha Pratha has only recently gained attention. Media coverage is minimal, and few victims come forward to file complaints. Non-governmental organizations are working to raise awareness and combat this practice, but the villagers often defend it as a cultural custom and a vital income source.

India has laws against bride trafficking, including the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, the Bonded Labour Abolition Act, the Child Labour Prohibition Act, and the Juvenile Justice Act. However, enforcement is weak, and loopholes in the legal system make it difficult to address trafficking and slavery effectively.

Conclusion: A Call to Action

The Indian Constitution prohibits all forms of trafficking, forced begging, and bonded labor. Yet, practices like Dhadicha Pratha persist, openly exploiting women under the guise of tradition. It is crucial to implement stricter laws and raise awareness about the criminal nature of such practices.

Remember: Crimes Against Women Are Never Acceptable

“There is one universal truth applicable to all countries: Crime against women is never acceptable, never excusable, and never tolerable.” It is time for the state to take decisive action and ensure that such atrocities are eradicated once and for all.