Dowry system in India

 

Dowry generally refers to materialistic things parents give to their daughter at the time of her marriage, which generally includes Refrigerator, Car, Almirah, cash etc. This system was started in medieval times by British when the gifts and goods were given to bride for her independence in her husband’s house. They made dowry compulsory. As of now, dowry is no longer prelavant in today’s India legally and socially, but still in some remote areas dowry is taken into consideration while marrying a girl. But now, as economic growth has taken a whole circle, economic strata of dowry has also widened. 

Although seeking a dowry has been outlawed in India since 1961, the ban has been a challenge to enforce. An amendment to the law in 1986 mandated that any death or violence within the first seven years of marriage would be tried as related to dowry. The reality is that most cases of dowry violence go unreported. 

Impacts on Women

• Women are killed :- In some areas or houses when women don’t take dowry with her. She is killed, she is burnt alive and all these crimes women ( mother in law, sister in law) are included too. 

• Women are abused :- When the in laws don’t get dowry from their daughter in law, they starts abusing her mentally and physically. That house becomes hell for the women to live in. She can’t even share her sorrow and misery with anyone around.

• Women can’t have her economic independence :- While women don’t bring dowry she can’t have her economic independence. She can’t live her life as she wants. She is always restricted from doing things she likes, who obviously breaks her mental sanity and thus puts a bad effect on her health. 

• Destroys women’s mental and physical health :- When a person is abused physically and mentally, they can’t live their life their own way, it obviously destroys their health. 

Now, there are strict laws against dowry system. Under Article 3 of dowry prohibition act, 1961, dowry is prohibited and under Section 498A of Indian Penal Code, if the husband or whosoever would ask for dowry will be arrested if the women complains of dowry or harassment. 

 Some of the common remedies under the Domestic Violence Act include:

• protection orders – prohibiting a person from committing domestic violence;

• residence orders – dispossessing such person from a shared household;

• custody orders – granting custody of a child; and

• compensation orders – directing payment of compensation.