Breaking Chains: Women in Rajasthan Challenge 'Atta-Satta' Bride-Exchange Custom

In Rajasthan, women like Monica Jod are actively challenging the deeply entrenched 'atta-satta' custom, a bride-exchange practice that ties the fates of multiple marriages together. Monica, who at 14 was denied the chance to study, left home four times to escape a predetermined future of marriage and domesticity. Now 35, she works with Sambhali Trust, an organization dedicated to empowering women to forge their own paths.

The 'atta-satta' custom, prevalent in parts of western Rajasthan, including Barmer, Bikaner, and Jodhpur, involves marrying a daughter into one household while receiving a daughter from that household for a brother or other male family member. Govind Singh Rathore, founder of the Jodhpur-based Sambhali Trust, explains that this arrangement can become a trap where one woman's choices can be used as leverage against another. The Rajasthan High Court this year criticized the practice, describing it as a form of “mutual hostage-taking” between families.

Sambhali Trust, which began its work in 2007, has been a beacon of hope, addressing cases where women as young as 19 are married to men in their 50s or 60s, often leading to cycles of abuse and neglect. Between April 2025 and March 2026, the Trust handled 956 helpline calls, provided psychological counselling and legal guidance in 188 cases, and offered temporary shelter to 14 high-risk survivors. One such case involved 19-year-old Nisha (name changed), who resisted an attempted forced 'atta-satta' marriage in April 2025, faced severe abuse, and was eventually rescued with the help of the National Commission for Women, now pursuing her education under the Trust's protection.

Monica Jod's own journey, supported by her father and Rathore, culminated in her earning the Gargi Puraskar for academic excellence, and her mother eventually granting her the freedom to choose her own life. Today, Monica guides other women, emphasizing the importance of education, vocational skills, and financial independence, advising them to save even small amounts like “Rs 200” to gain autonomy. Kumkum Thanvi, a counselling psychologist with Sambhali Trust’s Nirbhaya Initiative, highlights that financial dependence, family pressure, and concerns about children are major barriers for women seeking to leave such marriages. Rathore asserts that the solution lies in changing mindsets through education and economic independence, advocating for a society where a daughter is not seen as a commodity.

Editor's note: Effectively synthesizes the feature story on the atta-satta custom, Monica Jod's journey, and Sambhali Trust statistics.