Virginity Testing in India

In India there is a centuries-old custom of "Kukari ki Rasam" (thread ritual), where a skein of thread is used to detect the presence of an intact hymen. It isn't just used to torture women, but is often used so that the bride's family can make money "Impure" brides are beaten to reveal the names of their "lovers" and then these lovers are forced to pay large amounts of money to the bride's family. Sansi women will often name any man that they know just to stop the torture that they are undergoing. A local schoolteacher says that it is irrelevant that they are forced to name the men. He says, "Here the brides are beaten to make them admit to affairs." The police claim that they are unable to do anything because this is not illegal, rather just immoral. Virginity tests are not covered under the Indian Penal Code and therefore cannot be considered a crime so a case cannot be filed against these practices.
In India, women's organizations are active, but the movement to end virginity testing is not strong as of yet. Other tests used in India are the "Paani ki Dheej" (purity by water) or "Agnipariksha" (trial by fire). In the purity by water test, the woman has to hold her breath under water while another person takes one hundred steps. If she is unable to do this, she is not considered a virgin. In the trial by fire test, the brides have to walk with red-hot iron in their hands with just a plate made out of leaves and dough to shield her hands from the heat. If her hands are burnt, she is considered to be impure. Sansi women are often not willing to draw attention to this problem, so the government is unable to do very much. Many Sansi people feel that whatever happens within the home between husband and wife is private, so education is probably the best route to invoke any change in the cultural practice (Sharma, http://uk.news.yahoo.com/001214/80/as7x9.html).