The Dowry System in India is still common illegal practice which is happening around us. This practice has been passed down from generation to generation and became a part of our custom. Dowry can be in the form of money, property or goods given by bride’s family to the groom or his family at time of the marriage for “taking care “of their daughter whereas Streedhan is treated as the self-acquired property of the bride which is different from Dowry. One of the most heinous crimes against women is dowry death .Dowry has been considered as social evil and was abolished this system 1961 in India, but unfortunately around 20 women dies everyday as a result of harassment over dowry.

One of the reason why the dowry system still exist is because men values more than women and this value is measured by the amount of dowry a men  gets when he marries. The second major reason is that Dowry is considered as part of Indian culture that it seems to be normal. The third and important reason is the dominance of the institution of marriage. Its 2021, how and when will this system will change?

Dowry deaths are increasing day by day even after various laws and judgement came into effect. Most of the cases go unreported because the bride’s family is willing to give any sum of money that the groom or groom’s family demands. The Dowry Prohibition Act 1961 was introduced to prohibit the practice of dowry. According to Section 3 and Section 4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act 161, Giving and taking dowry and demanding dowry is an offence.  Our lawmakers inserted Section 498A (Cruelty against Married Woman) in IPC in the year 1983 and further Section 304-B (Dowry Deaths) in 1986 to prevent dowry-related cruelty and dowry deaths. All these laws are offender focused laws but no relief to victim. Later, in 2005 ‘The Protection of women against Domestic Violence Act’ was introduced to  provides for prompt relief to the victim in the form of maintenance, residence, restraining orders, custody of children, etc..

In the case of Rajbir Raju v/s State of Haryana, after hearing the petitioner the Honorable Supreme Court held that the crimes against women are increasing day by day and we should protect the interest of women by give them justice. A similar case was reported in Kerala recently where a 24-year-old ayurveda medicine student was found hanging in the bathroom since she was being harassed by her husband and in-laws over dowry demands where 800 gm gold, over an acre of land and a car worth ₹ 10 lakh was given as dowry at the time of marriage.

Let us join hands to say NO to Dowry and refuse to marry the man who demands or ask for dowry. Let’s educate and encouraging them have their own career is the best valuable gift and dowry any parents can give to their daughter. The life and self-respect of a women should not be determined by this social evil practice which is still followed in India.

Aishwarya Says:

I have always been against Glorifying Over Work and therefore, in the year 2021, I have decided to launch this campaign “Balancing Life”and talk about this wrong practice, that we have been following since last few years. I will be talking to and interviewing around 1 lakh people in the coming 2021 and publish their interview regarding their opinion on glamourising Over Work.

If you are interested in participating in the same, do let me know.

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We also have a Facebook Group Restarter Moms for Mothers or Women who would like to rejoin their careers post a career break or women who are enterpreneurs.

We are also running a series Inspirational Women from January 2021 to March 31,2021, featuring around 1000 stories about Indian Women, who changed the world. #choosetochallenge