The Women as a Commodity and Marriage as a Commercial Opportunity: An Investigation into the Unpleasant Truth of Marriage Trafficking in India

Abstract

This study investigates the unpleasant truth of marriage trafficking in India and how our society perceives women as commodities and makes marriage a commercial opportunity. As per the 2011 Census, India has 48.04% women of the total population; their social status is not satisfactory. If we take the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "the progress of the country is determined by the social status of women in the country,"; and it is unfortunate to say that, for women, India is not a safer place. Brides from economically deprived regions of east and south India are purchased for marriages. Girls are trafficked and sold by spouses and agents to men looking for girls to marry. These brides are tightly controlled so that they do not escape. They use to go through difficult phases of life as they cannot make their own choices, do not enjoy the rights of even being an individual, and are considered slaves. A girl, who should be in school at the young age of 14 or 15 to develop herself and put effort to lead her future in the right direction with fair chances made accessible to her, is compelled into the so-called institution of marriage with men double or triple her age. Certain girls labor as domestic slaves during the day and forced prostitution at night reveal their awful situation. This is a research study completely based on secondary sources. As mentioned above, it has tried to review and analyze the condition of women after marriage trafficking in Indian scenario from the wider perspectives. The available journals articles, books, newspapers and other e-resources on the subject are looked into with a critical analysis on every nuance of bride trafficking in India. The whole discussion and findings are categorized under different themes based on the three sole objectives of the study such as understanding the contributing factors, the further consequences of bride trafficking in Indian scenarios, and critically analyzing the existing legislations and provisions related to trafficking in India. Keywords: Marriage trafficking, Commodity, Commercial Opportunity, Forced Prostitution, Domestic Violence.