Would-be brides were reportedly made to undergo virginity and pregnancy tests at a mass wedding, conducted by the state government under the Mukhyamantri Kanyadaan Yojana, in Betul district on Friday.
However, minutes before the exchange of garlands, and after completion of other registration formalities, district officials asked prospective brides to go through virginity/pregnancy tests if they wish to avail benefits of the MKY scheme.
Quickly, under the presence of two district health workers – J Budholiya and Durga Malviya alleged virginity – pregnancy tests were conducted on over 400 prospective brides.
At least nine women were reportedly not allowed to participate in the mass wedding after they were found to be pregnant.
Alleged pregnancy test of some tribal girls who turned up for their marriages under the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana at Hardu village in Betul district, about 175 kilometers south east of Bhopal, has caused a flutter in the administration. As many as nine of them who were found pregnant were prevented from taking part in the marriage ceremony.
As per a report reaching here there were 400 pairs, mostly tribals, turned up at Hardu village for their marriage under the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojna. Under the marriage, a couple is provided Rs. 13000 worth articles including a mangalsutra, a cycle, some utensils, clothes etc.
Some health department employees reportedly during their routine inquiry had doubt about some of the applicants being pregnant.
Under the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojna as is evident by its name only bachelors are allowed to get benefit of the scheme. However, rules are silent if any pregnant bachelor can be prevented from taking part in such marriages.
Talking to media persons, the health department worker Durga Malviya said, 12 of the girls were suspected to be pregnant. Of them, five ( who denied that they were pregnant) were subjected to medical examination through pregnancy kit.
Anurag Modi of the Shramik Adivasi Sangathan alleged that the tribal women not only underwent pregnancy tests but also suffered the humiliation of virginity tests.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly Ajay Singh said on Saturday that pregnancy test carried out on tribal women in Betul district was a disgraceful incident and demanded stringent action against persons involved.
In a press statement, Ajay Singh said that this incident amounts to gross disrespect towards tribal society and women at large and the chief minister should apologise to women and tribals for it.
He reiterated that women’s honour was no longer safe in MP under the BJP dispensation.
The Mukhyamantri Kanyadaan Yojana is a popular scheme under which thousands of couples have been married in the last few years. Each couple gets gifts worth Rs 15,000.
He denied that any of the applicants who turned up for the marriage under the scheme was subjected to medical and said gruesome incidents of crimes against women and the incident like pregnancy test before marriage were being reported from the state everyday.
State Congress president Kantilal Bhuria in a separate press statement also condemned the incident of pregnancy test of tribal women ahead of mass marriage function of tribal women in Betul.
“The presence of former minister Vijay Shah and MLA Geeta Uike in the function shows their involvement in the shameful incident,” said Bhuria. examination.
“Even otherwise, it is not possible to conduct medical examination of such a large number of applicants, that too at the time of marriage,” he added.