NCW launches inquiry into bride-selling practices in Haryana

The National Commission for Women (NCW) has established a dedicated inquiry panel to examine the deeply entrenched practice of bride-selling marriages in the Mewat region, particularly in Haryana's Nuh district. The practice, known locally as 'Paro' or 'Molki' marriages, involves the commodification of women during matrimonial arrangements and has persisted in the region despite legal prohibitions against such transactions.

The fact-finding committee comprises five members, including two retired Indian Police Service officers, lending investigative expertise to the sensitive inquiry. Their mandate is to thoroughly examine the scope, prevalence, and underlying factors driving this practice within Mewat communities, where such marriages have been documented across generations.

The panel has been given a tight ten-day timeline to complete its investigation and submit a comprehensive report to the NCW. This accelerated schedule underscores the commission's urgency in addressing what constitutes a severe violation of women's rights and human dignity. The inquiry is expected to provide critical insights into how such practices persist in parts of India despite constitutional protections and legislative safeguards against trafficking and forced marriages.

The findings are likely to inform policy recommendations and enforcement mechanisms to combat the practice and protect vulnerable women in the region. The NCW's intervention represents a significant step toward documenting and addressing gender-based exploitation in communities where traditional practices continue to subordinate women's autonomy and rights.