A local custom called `Jhagda’ allows men or parents to sell off their daughter or wife to another man for a said amount on a Government sealed paper! Once the problem was girl infanticide in this area populated by small tribes which has now resulted in a decline in the number of girls.
This is being used an opportunity by the family members to earn fast bucks by selling off their wife or daughter for huge sums usually running to lakhs. The irony is it is all done on stamped Government paper.
Commonly a woman may get sold five to six times and still cannot expect the support of her husbands in case of sickness or accident. The multiple marriages hurt the children the most as they are usually not accepted by the next groom. It certainly is a life on edge for the women here!
