The Barela tribes of Madhya Pradesh follow a rare custom called reverse dowry, where the groom’s family pays a “bride price” to the girl’s parents. At first glance, it appears empowering-after all, unlike the common Indian system, here the girl’s family receives money. But the reality is far more troubling.

In these communities, girls are chosen not for companionship but for labour value. Village elders openly discuss rates: a hardworking girl who can carry water long distances or work tirelessly in fields costs more.

Once married, the groom’s family believes they have “bought” the bride, expecting her to perform endless farm work, house chores and give birth early.

This system pushes girls into early marriages, leading to health risks like anaemia and malnutrition, and cutting them off from education. While urban Indians debate women’s empowerment, rural customs like reverse dowry reveal a harsher truth: whether dowry or bride price, both systems reduce women to commodities, not individuals.