Wadia hopes to erase prostitution through marriage

In its heydays,the community used to sharpen arms such as shields and swords in the army of Maharana Pratap of Mewar. Loss in war against the Mughals and the ruler’s death left the Saraniyas bereft of their traditional vocation. Staring at a dismal economic future,four of their women turned to prostitution which reportedly continues till today as a tradition,albeit under the wraps.

“The mass wedding is an important step to ensure that the community’s women get a secure future,” said

Mittal Patel,coordinator of Vicharta Samuday Samarthan Manch,instrumental in conducting the mass marriage.

The sleepy hamlet wore a festive look with brides and grooms posing for photographs,and in the background there were fields laden with cultivated castor and jeera crops. “It’s an eyewash. The real story unfolds in the night when men from this village solicit customers on the highway and girls as young as 14 years of age become part of a vicious circle in the name of tradition,” said Parmar Devshibhai Bhikhabhai,committee member of Vadgamda Group Gram Panchayat,and resident of a nearby village.

However,as he waited for his turn to get engaged,Rahul Bachubhai (16) claimed: “We don’t have prostitution anymore in our village. These are stories that have given our village a bad name. I work in the fields and don’t see any reason why my future wife will have to earn a livelihood through such means.”

Gujarati poet Madhav Ramanuj,who is at the forefront of this initiative,said: “Economic independence is slowly turning corners here and education can hopefully do the rest. The school we established two years ago was functional till Class VI. We have now upgraded it to Class VII. The wheels are turning,though slowly.”

With the initiative being supported by Chief Minister Narendra Modi,Health Minister Parbat Patel,District Collector J B Vora and District Development Officer B J Bhatt were present at the event.