We are wonder-struck that dowry death is occurring at an alarming regularity in a country that prides itself on the worship of women and whose constitution guarantees equal rights and privileges to the womenfolk.
Dowry is the wedding gift to the bride. It was actually originated in upper-caste families, but now this system is found in both rich and poor communities. It happens to illiterate, backward women and educated, enlightened, professionally qualified urban sisters of ours.
It is served by payment in cash or kind or both by the bride's family to the groom's family.
Due to the dowry system, the sacred affair of marriage is destroyed. It turned into a business deal. However, the dowry was banned lawfully in 1961 in India, as per the act Dowry Prohibition Act in the Indian penal code, the practice existing today.
Huge dowry is still demanded even when the girls are well skilled and earn much more to add to the family's income. If the marriage with dowry is less than the demand, a new chapter of mental and physical violence against the bride begins to extract more dowries. The violence starts from the first day on, with hurtful comments from the in-laws and the meek husband.
Every day we read in a newspaper the stories about dowry deaths. A husband or in-laws may hit or rebuke her to death, or she may commit suicide. There are quarrels and wars of tongues on the question of dowry. That was why the government declared that giving dowry and receiving dowry is illegal. Both the giver and receiver will be legally responsible.
Divorced or separated women are considered prey .parents refuse to look after their daughters once they have broken marriage. This makes her undergo untold sufferings and humiliation at the hands of the bridegroom's family. It has spread its tentacles to Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, and other communities.
Several laws are there to control the dowry. Many NGO and social institutions, women organizations, National Human Rights Commission are also there to help the women in such cases. Family courts are also taking instantaneous action in case of aggression and dowry deaths. Press and media also play a great task to make such incidence public,
In short, dowry is really a social evil. It is deeply rooted in our culture, so public awakening is compulsory to destroy the fiend of dowry. Parents should remember that they have to provide their daughter with a solid education and encourage her to pursue a career of her choice. It is the best dowry any parent can ever give their daughter.
All should discourage evil so that a large number of unnecessary deaths can be avoided.
steps to control dowry system
- Give proper education to your daughters.
- Educating the youth and inculcating an awareness of equal rights and privileges among them right from an early stage.
- Motivate girls to be economically independent and responsible enough to carry out their works on their own.
- Encourage gender equality.
- Do not encourage a dowry system.
- Provide stringent punishment for dowry-seekers as well as dowry givers.
You must be logged in to post a comment.