After all, why are the cases of dowry death skyrocketing in the country?
By: Dr.Satyawan Saurabh
Dowry, a cultural practice deeply rooted in many Indian communities, refers to money, goods, or property given to the groom’s family along with the bride. Dowry is a social evil in society, which has given rise to unimaginable atrocities and crimes against women. Evil has taken the lives of women from every stratum of society – be it poor, middle class, or rich. However, it is the poor who are most vulnerable and fall prey to it due to a lack of awareness and education.
Even though people know that dowry is a crime, this evil still exists in society. Recently a girl committed suicide after complaining of dowry harassment. In her case, there were 102 witnesses, and 53 pieces of evidence, including her voice note, were sent to her husband where she complained of torture at the hands of her in-laws. It is not just her but many other women who face dowry threats and die because their families are not able to meet the dowry demands. The difference is that such incidents do not come to light because the victims decide to remain silent about them. As per research, in the last three years, the conviction rate is very low and the sad part is that hardly anyone is convicted in these cases.
In many literate and developed states, a high number of dowry cases. This shows that a high rate of literacy is not able to prevent this menace. For example, Kerala is the most literate state in India, with a literacy rate of 96.2%. As per the 2011 census report, 96.11% of males and 92.07% of females are literate in the state. However, a statistical report published by the Economic and Statistics Department of Kerala has revealed a paradox that cases of dowry-related deaths are skyrocketing in the state.
The cause of dowry is deeply entrenched in our society; Due to its patriarchal nature daughters are seen as property. There is a strong preference for boys, which has been blamed for female infanticide over the years. This has left India with a very imbalanced sex ratio. According to the 2011 census, there are 940 females per 1,000 males. There are 37 million more men than women in India, making it difficult for men to find suitable brides.
Due to societal attitudes, instead of considering dowry as a crime and a cause of shame, it has become a matter of pride. It is discussed over coffee in family gatherings. Sons-in-law are often presented with the price tag that comes with them. Educated grooms demand more dowry. Education has been narrowed down to just one other factor that determines your market rate. Today, the dowry is directly linked to the estimation and treatment of the bride by her husband, forcing their families to ensure that an adequate amount of dowry is provided. Due to greedy expectations of material gain from the bride’s family, dowry is demanded, and many times, when the demand is not met, either the marriage is annulled, or the bride is exploited for domestic violence.
With a literacy rate of 74.04% in the country, it is quite valid to consider it as the primary cause of various social ills. The communities who are not aware of the laws and legislation have to face many atrocities due to the dowry exchange practices. Lack of will to follow the laws, primary reason behind its failure is the lack of public participation. People do not pay heed to such laws and promote dowry practices to get material benefits in the guise of a marriage proposal.
Due to custom, daughters are not given equal importance to sons. In society, it has been observed many times that they are seen as a liability and are often subjected to subordination and are given second-hand treatment whether it is in education or other facilities. Parents do not put enough emphasis on educating their daughters, as they feel that later husbands will support them. Poor sections of society send their daughters to work outside and earn some money, to help save their dowry. People from regular middle and upper-class backgrounds send their daughters to school but do not emphasize career options. Very wealthy parents support their daughters until they get married.
Measures to stop dowry depend on education and sensitization, so educate the young generation, sons and daughters; encourage them to pursue their careers; teach them to be independent and responsible; Treat your daughters equally without any discrimination; Do not encourage the practice of giving or taking dowry; Through mass media campaigns, media has the potential to remove the dowry system from the mainstream of Indian society. By publishing relevant news and informing the authorities about any reported case of dowry-related crime, they can effectively control the possibilities.
Law on Dowry in India The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 deals with a dowry in India. This act prohibits the practice of giving or taking dowry by both parties to the marriage. The law also punishes demanding and advertising dowry. Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005; The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 was passed to provide a civil law remedy for the protection of women from domestic violence in India. The Domestic Violence Act covers all forms of physical, verbal, emotional, economic, and sexual abuse and forms a subset of the anti-dowry laws to an extent one of the causes of domestic violence.
Voluntary organizations should campaign against the dowry system. The workers of these organizations should help the victims of dowry harassment and get them justice. These organizations should make people aware of their addresses through advertisements so that the victims can request help in getting justice. Women’s self-help groups should be oriented on systematic violence against women and the existence of local support systems. By actively spreading awareness and showing solidarity, women’s self-help groups can play a powerful role in building a more equal society.
Dowry has become an institutional and integral part of an Indian marriage. Social and economic realities do little to keep it under control. In such a situation, the need of the hour is to revise the institutional framework related to dowry and do more research on the different forms of dowry and the reasons for its prevalence.
The writer is a Poet, freelance journalist and columnist, All India Radio and TV panellist.
