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| Image Credit ; BBC.com |
Some women have been given several bats with which they can freely beat their husbands if the men ever turn abusive.
Gopal Bhargava, an Indian Rural Development Minister, gave bats to
nearly 700 brides during a mass marriage ceremony solemnised on Monday
in his home town Garhakota in Sagar district.
nearly 700 brides during a mass marriage ceremony solemnised on Monday
in his home town Garhakota in Sagar district.
The Indian Express reports that he said the gift was to help the women ward off drunk and abusive husbands.
The wooden bat or mogri as the implement which is supposed to be used for washing is called, even bears the caption ‘sharabiyon ke sutara hetu bhent, police nahi bolegi’ meaning “gift for beating drunkards, police will not intervene”.
“Whenever I visit any rural or urban area in my constituency,
women complain about their husband’s drinking habit. They inform me that
whatever little they earn is snatched away by their husband for
alcohol. They (women) are also subjected to physical violence,” Bhargava told Indian Express.
women complain about their husband’s drinking habit. They inform me that
whatever little they earn is snatched away by their husband for
alcohol. They (women) are also subjected to physical violence,” Bhargava told Indian Express.
“The idea of gifting mogri struck me when a woman asked me
whether she should get her husband to stop drinking by beating him with
this wooden plank,” the minister said.
whether she should get her husband to stop drinking by beating him with
this wooden plank,” the minister said.
The minister sees nothing wrong in it and feels that it a step
towards bringing social change, which is necessary to deal with the
menace of alcoholism.
towards bringing social change, which is necessary to deal with the
menace of alcoholism.
“The government or police alone would not be able to solve this
problem. For this, people have to come forward. There are many examples
in history which show that when masses intervene, things have changed
for the better,” he said.
problem. For this, people have to come forward. There are many examples
in history which show that when masses intervene, things have changed
for the better,” he said.
Do you think Nigeria should adopt this strategy too?
