In India: Brides get wooden bats to beat husbands who go drunk

Gopal Bhargava, a state minister gave the bats to the brides at a mass wedding organised by the government of central Madhya Pradesh state on Saturday.

About 700 newlywed women in India have been given wooden bats to use as a weapon if their husbands turn alcoholic or abusive.

Gopal Bhargava, a state minister gave the bats to the brides at a mass wedding organised by the government of central Madhya Pradesh state on Saturday.

The wooden bats - which are often used to get the dirt out of clothes in traditional laundries - were emblazoned with messages that read: “For beating drunkards” and “Police won’t intervene”.

 

Bhargava advised the brides to reason with their husbands first, but should not hesitate to “let the wooden paddles do the talking” should their spouses refuse to listen.

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He told AFP that the move is to highlight the plight of rural women who face domestic abuse from their alcoholic husbands.

“Women say whenever their husbands get drunk they become violent. Their savings are taken away and splurged on liquor,” he said.

“There is no intent to provoke women or instigate them to violence but the bat is to prevent violence.”

Bhargava has ordered nearly 10,000 bats for distribution to newlywed women.

Many states in India have in recent years launched a crackdown on liquor. Some have banned or restricted its sale in a bid to curb violence fuelled by alcohol.

Gopal Bhargava, a state minister gave the bats to the brides at a mass wedding organised by the government of central Madhya Pradesh state on Saturday. Read Full Story