In an incident that has enraged child rights activists, a minor boy was paraded naked in Pandaralli village in the drought-prone Chitradurga taluk to “appease rain gods.”
A video of the incident, which occurred last week, has gone viral.
The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken note of the issue. It will serve notice to the district administration seeking explanation on the issue, and the measures taken to ensure such incidents do not occur in future.
Practices of this kind are not uncommon across the six taluks of the drought-prone district.
As part of the ritual, the feet of a boy are buried in mud and pots of water are poured on him to the accompaniment of drums and chanting. He is then paraded naked with a garland around his neck and Ganesha idol in his hands. After the ritual, the boy is offered new clothes and food. There is also a feast in the village.
Parameshwarappa, Joint Director, Department of Women and Child Development, said officers of the department had visited the village and convinced the people not to indulge in such practices as they are against the law. “Officers will take up awareness programmes,” he said.
