Southern States - Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram   

Women's Commission to launch drive against dowry

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM Nov. 25. The yearlong campaign being launched by the State Women's Commission against dowry system begins on November 26, the day being observed by the National Commission for Women as the Anti- Dowry Day.

Massive awareness programmes are being organised in all districts, with more focus on the villages to highlight the evils of the dowry system and its disastrous fall-outs, the Commission chairperson, M. Kamalam, said.

The Commission has already sent its recommendations regarding the amendments it has sought in the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 to the State Government and has demanded that the rules be formulated for the effective implementation of the Act, by including the recommendations put forth by the Commission.

The Commission's main task would be to bring about attitudinal change among people regarding dowry system and one of its main strategies would be to organise college students in the State to raise their voice against dowry, Ms. Kamalam said.

The Commission had earlier suggested that a ceiling be put on wedding expenses and the gold worn by a bride during the ceremony.

The response it has received from various sections of society has been encouraging, Ms. Kamalam said.

The cooperation of religious leaders is also being sought in curbing marriage expenses and in eliminating the dowry system.

One of the changes sought in the Dowry Prohibition Act by the Commission is that "no person shall demand directly or indirectly from the parents of a bride or bridegroom any dowry before or after marriage.'' Also, that no person shall deny conjugal rights and peaceful life to his wife on the ground that the demand for dowry had not been satisfied or the dowry given was insufficient.

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