These teens drop out of school to pay ‘bride price’

NEW DELHI: A study on the severe educational challenges faced by children of communities from denotified and nomadic tribes that are seen to be traditionally engaged in sex work and isolated from the mainstream cites the case of 12 boys between 14 to 18 years in a village in Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh who had dropped out of school to earn to pay the ‘bride price’ and later married.
The study commissioned by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights states that of the 105 drop-outs between 14-18 years surveyed (47 boys and 58 girls), those among Banchhada community revealed that the pressure of earning to pay the ‘bride price’ is directly connected to their decision to quit school before matriculation. Inability to pay the price meant they would not find a girl to marry in their community. “Most of the boys were involved in labour and other petty jobs,” it is stated.
NCPCRI chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said that the study has been submitted to the ministry of women and child development with recommendations for mainstreaming these communities. The study is based on a survey of 1,161 respondents from seven districts covering five communities. The survey includes 688 schoolgoing children; 105 school drop-outs; 126 parents; 88 teachers and 154 district level officials.
The survey teams reached out to Perna community in Delhi, Nat in Hardoi in UP, Bedia in Bharatpur (Rajashtan), Vidisha and Raisen in Madhya Pradesh, Banchhada in Neemuch (MP) and Saraniya in Banaskantha (Gujarat). Each community has its own peculiar challenges.
Out of the 105 drop-out children covered across these districts, 64 of them had completed primary level of education and 41 had completed school up to 9th standard and then dropped out. It turns out that 85% of these children were involved in some kind of income generation activity. Among Bedia community, 92% children surveyed in Vidisha said that it was hard for their families to survive without their earnings.
Among schoolgoing children overall 25% children said the environment in their home was not conducive to study. More than 55% kids said some form of corporal punishment is prevalent in schools.
While most parents were illiterate, in almost all communities male members of the family have no regular income and were dependent on income of wife and other women family members. Women were mostly involved in sex work. The study notes that the survey teams found that while the women do not disclose what they do to outsiders but within these communities, the members consider sex trade to be socially and culturally acceptable.