Girls made to walk naked to bring rain

Six girls were paraded naked in a village in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district by locals as part of a ritual which villagers believe will please the rain deities and bring relief from the drought-like situation, officials said yesterday.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has sought a report from the Damoh district administration on the incident which happened on Sunday at Baniya village, about 50km from the Damoh district headquarters, in the Bundelkhand region.

“According to the news published in local media, an act of ‘inhumanity’ has come to the fore in the Damoh district of Madhya Pradesh. Allegedly, minor girls were seen roaming naked on the streets of a neighbourhood in the district.

These girls, belonging to the Adivasi community, reached a nearby temple and worshipped the goddess,” said NCPCR.

A district official said a response will be submitted to the NCPCR.

Damoh superintendent of police D.R. Teniwar said the police received the information that some young girls were paraded naked to appease the god of rains as part of a local practice and prevailing social evils.