Farmers sell wives after crops fail

FARMERS in north India are selling their wives to survive, it has been revealed.

Left without money due to failing crops, farmers in Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh, have reportedly sold their wives to money lenders for 4,000-12,000 rupees (€55-€170).

The more beautiful the woman, the higher the price, it was claimed.

The deals are allegedly being settled on a legal stamp paper under the heading Vivaha Anubandh (marriage contract).

Most of the women are illiterate and cannot read the “contract”.

Girija Vyas, chief of the National Commission for Women, said: “It is awful and unbelievable that it still happens in the country, and that too in Uttar Pradesh where the chief minister is a woman.

“We are sending a team to find out the details and have asked for the report within 24 hours.”

One victim said: “My husband sold me to another man for 8,000 rupees only. My buyer took me to the court to make our wedding look legal. During the trip I got the chance to escape.”

A farmer who helped expose the situation said he is being harassed. “I was summoned to the police station and questioned,” he said. “I told them I had spoken to the media because no one was listening to us. But they threatened me and said I was lying. My wife was also called to the station.”