Rajasthan 'girls' auction': NHRC takes note

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that in half a dozen districts of Rajasthan, girls are sold as repayment for loans. In some cases, their mothers are subjected to rape on the diktats of caste panchayats for the settlement of disputes.

In a statement, NHRC stated, "Whenever there is a dispute between two parties particularly involving financial transactions and loans, girls aged between 8-18 are auctioned to recover the money. These girls are being sent to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Mumbai, Delhi and even foreign countries and subjected to physical abuse, torture and sexual assault in slavery".