At a time when the safety of women in India is under question, certain regressive customs that continue to be followed in certain parts of the country are undermining efforts being made to empower women, especially rural women. One such practice is ‘Dhadicha’, prevalent in Madhya Pradesh’s Shivpuri Village. Here, women are ‘bought’ and ‘sold’ like commodities in a market.
People come to this market from far and wide to get women on ‘rent’ based on the ‘deals’ they strike. The duration of the ‘rental’ is determined by the terms of the agreement. Men set the price for any woman they choose after taking a look at her and then take her away after paying the agreed amount. Usually, poor families come to this fair to ‘sell’ their female members.
Men ‘buy’ women from this market for various reasons. Some ‘purchase’ them to serve the elderly in their homes, while others ‘rent’ them because they are unable to find a suitable bride. As per reports, the women have the right to refuse the ‘deal’.
A formal agreement is drafted for any woman ‘bought’ from this market. The ‘price’ starts from Rs 15,000 and can go up to a few lakhs. As per a report in News18 Hindi, virgin women fetch a higher price. A man can ‘rent’ a woman for a year or a few months. As per the report, an agreement is prepared, including stamp papers, which start at Rs 10.
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