In a groundbreaking move, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has stepped into the fray against the abhorrent practice of ‘Nata Pratha.’ This archaic custom, prevalent in certain communities across Rajasthan and its neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat, entails the sale of young girls under the guise of marriage, devoid of any legal validation.
The NHRC’s intervention stems from a grave realization of the nefarious impact of ‘Nata Pratha’ on the lives of women and minors. Prompted by the moral imperative to combat this unethical tradition, the NHRC has issued directives to the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development and the concerned state governments. These directives mandate the submission of a comprehensive action report within eight weeks, detailing measures taken or proposed to eradicate this social blight.
The catalyst for NHRC’s intervention was a plaintive outcry from the father of a minor girl, tragically ensnared in the web of ‘Nata Pratha.’ Her harrowing tale, marked by abduction and subsequent demise, unfolded in the precincts of Rajasthan’s Salamgarh, District Pratapgrah. Through meticulous investigation, NHRC uncovered a sordid narrative of familial betrayal, where the father himself orchestrated the sale of his daughter for a paltry sum of Rs 2.5 lakh.
Further probe illuminated a pattern of exploitation, wherein the girl’s objections fell on deaf ears, and her grievances were met with apathy from law enforcement. Tragically, her desperate plea for justice culminated in her untimely demise, a stark testament to the systemic failure to safeguard the rights of vulnerable individuals.
NHRC’s research wing has underscored the parallels between ‘Nata Pratha’ and contemporary forms of human trafficking, advocating for stringent legal recourse under relevant statutes. Proposals for grassroots initiatives, including the establishment of village-level boards to document instances of ‘Nata Pratha,’ underscore NHRC’s holistic approach to combating this societal scourge.
In a seminal move, NHRC has catalyzed dialogue and action, laying bare the moral imperative to dismantle the vestiges of ‘Nata Pratha.’ This antiquated custom, steeped in misogyny and exploitation, stands as an affront to the principles of human dignity and equality. NHRC’s clarion call for collective action resonates as a beacon of hope in the fight against entrenched social injustices.
