Dowry system in india Essay

dower is derived from the ancient Hindu customs of kanyadan and stridhan. In kanyadan, the father of the bride offers the father of the lop money or property, etc whereas for stridhan, the bride herself gets jewelry and change state at the time of her trade union, usually from her relatives or friends. In Varadakshina, the father of the bride presents the groom cash or loving. All of these could be done voluntarily and come forward of affection and make out.The Hindu espousal placement is sacramental. According to this system, a nuptials is forever and there is no scope for a separation. Among the various ceremonies previously practise, the ceremony in front of a godly fire (Yajna in Sanskrit) has taken over, the old-fashioned system of marrying a wife by capture.This song of marriage began the practice of circumstances, where originally, the family of the bride would accept gifts and money from the grooms family as an alternative to bloodshed during the capture of the bride. A later modification of this system has paved way for the present parcel system primarily practiced by the society.The helping custom continues to rule our society. In majority of Indian families, the boy has legacy rights, while the girl is given a monstrous sum at the time of her marriage in lieu of the presidential term regulated equal rights for girls in pargonntal property. Thus, dowry system has interruption in almost all parts of the country and sections of society.There are several reasons for the occurrence of the dowry system, only if the main one is that it is a necessary precondition for marriage. No dowry, no marriage is a far-flung fear. There has also been an appearance of a feudal mindset with a materialistic attitude in a new globalised economy.The price get over for the groom is now bigger and bolder. The emergence of an affluent middle class, the torchbearer of social change in modern India, is the main factor for the continuation of the dowry syste m.Families arrange most marriages, and a man who does not marry for love he can marry for wealth. For this man and his family, a woman becomes the tatter to shortcut riches through the system of dowry.There are a number of things people desire to take in in their admit houses just now cannot afford they use the opportunity of a sons marriage to get them. The girls parents do not protest against variety, as they regard the union as a stepping-stone towards higher social circumstance and better matches for the remaining children.Dowry as a phenomenon has gone beyond the ritual of marriage. Pregnancy, childbirth and all kinds of religious and family functions are occasions when such demands are made. A more sophisticated public image of an all-inclusive gifting session has replaced the old system.Now there is demand for receptions in marriage places. The trousseau includes designer wear for the bride and grooms family. Chefs are flown in for multi-cuisine espouse dinners. The b rides family usually pays for all this.The rich revel in the commuting of their black money, but this in turn exerts pressure on the separate classes to ape them with serious social consequences. The women ingest become a kind of commodity.It is them who are the worst sufferers because dowry is most often a fiscal agreement between two men the brides father and the groom. Caste-based practices have only added fuel to the fire. Marriages in political families are arranged to merge the caste base for support in electoral politics, sothey do not challenge the dowry system. Dowry rituals have now transmit even to communities where they were unknown. It has gone to different castes, crossed the boundaries of provinces and education and religion. Muslims and Christians, such as the Syrian Christians of Kerala and the Roman Catholics of Mangalore have started demanding dowry.Official statistics show a plastered rise in dowry crimes. More and more women are killed either year in In dia for dowry. Bihar and Uttar Pradesh still record the maximum number of dowry crimes, but Bangalore, Indias fastest growing city also shows an affright rise four women reportedly die every day because of dowry harassment and domestic violence.The cases of dowry torture are the highest accounting for 32.4% of crimes against women in the country.The Dowry Prohibition Act, in force since 1st July 1961, was passed with the purpose of prohibiting the demanding, big(p) and fetching of dowry.In 1980, the Government setup a committee that recommended amendments in the Dowry Prohibition Act and also suggested expanding the definition of dowry and instituting family courts and matter Commission for women. Many parliamentary debates led to some amendments in 1983,1984 and 1986.To duty tour the offences of cruelty by husband or his relatives on the wife, Section 498-A was added in the Indian Penal Code and Section 198-A in the Criminal operation Code in the year 1983.The Dowry Prohibit ion Act all the way stipulates that a person who gives or takes or helps in the giving or taking of dowry can be sentenced to jail for 5 eld and fined Rs. 15,000/- or the amount of the value of dowry, whichever is more.The Act also prohibits the giving and taking directly or indirectly any property or expensive security, any amount either in cash of kind, jewelry, articles, properties, etc. in respect of a marriage.The control is provided by stating a limit and label of people gifting and their relationship to the married couple to be signed by both sides of parents.In 1986, the Act was amended again, empowering State governments to appoint Dowry Prohibition Officers, who not only had a preventive role but also had powers to collect evidence against people who took dowry.Despite protest by womens organisations, serious activism, legal amendments, special police cells for women, media support and heightened consciousness of dowry being a crime, the practice continues unabated on a massive scale. Despite every stigma, dowry continues to be the signature of marriage.Women invite real social, political, financial and moral support in their fight against the system. They have to be empowered so that they can take their decisions about their own life by refusing the dowry system.