Wedded to debt: Fathers of Indian child brides in bondage

Child brides in India. 27 per cent of girls get married before they turn 18 years. [Courtesy]

For his 16-year-old daughter’s wedding last year, Makhanlal Ahirwal bought Bhawani saris, bangles and anklets, got her in-laws a water cooler, a bed and utensils as dowry and threw a feast for 500 people in his village in central India.

The celebrations added 200,000 rupees ($2,800) to an unpaid debt of about 100,000 rupees that he had already taken on for the wedding of another daughter.