Srinagar – The National Child Development Council (NCDC) held a top-level Core Committee meeting during the week, making a strong call for action to end India’s time-honored and deadly dowry tradition. At the meeting, NCDC women’s empowerment leaders, educators, and social activists came together to focus on recent dowry tragedies and stress the urgency for cultural as well as legal change.
Central to the debate was the sad history of Rithanya, a young woman from Tirupur, Tamil Nadu, who ended her life just 72 days after marriage, reportedly on account of constant demands for higher dowry and incessant harassment, sexual as well as emotional abuse from her spouse. Though her parents had given a big dowry at the time of marriage, the demands continued to mount, driving her to despair.
“She left a voice message for her parents prior to her death stating that she could no longer tolerate the physical and mental torture. Her agony is a reflection of thousands untold tales from India,” one of the committee members stated during the session.
Dowry System Persists Despite Legal Ban
Though dowry has been prohibited in India by virtue of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, members observed that the practice persists, thinly veiled under the guise of “gifts,” “property,” or “security.” The issue is not limited to illiterate or economically backward sections now; it exists in all levels of society, including educated and financially prosperous groups.
A number of members also raised concerns that parents of brides are complicit, willing to give dowry under social compulsion or to arrange so-called “prestigious” matches. The result, they cautioned, is a normalization of a exploitative custom.
Social and Psychological Burden
Apart from economic strain, the committee highlighted related problems such as:
Body shaming and discrimination against women who do not fit societal beauty norms, which is often followed by increased dowry demands.
Mental effects like anxiety, depression, and suicide in women trapped in abusive marriages.
A lack of desire to get married among educated women who see such trends prevailing in society.
“Even now, girls are being asked to ‘adjust’ instead of leaving abusive marriages. Parents are more scared of social stigma than the agony of their daughter,” noted a speaker.
NCDC Recommendations
In a series of resolutions adopted at the meeting, the NCDC laid out a holistic plan to address dowry:
1. Dowry Laws Must Be Stricter: Families demanding or taking dowry should face immediate legal action with hastened judicial procedures.
2. Education in Schools: Education about dowry awareness and gender equality has to be included in school curriculum to transform attitudes at a young age.
3. Community and Family Involvement: Parents should stand behind their daughters after marriage and should never insist that they stay in abusive situations for family honor.
4. Empowerment of Women: Women should be encouraged to seek education, jobs, and financial independence to prevent dependency and exploitation.
5. Emphasizing Positive Role Models: The council provided instances of marriages arranged without dowry and encouraged them to be role models for society.
“Saying ‘no’ to dowry isn’t sufficient. We should say ‘yes’ to empowerment, to equality, and to a new cultural norm,” stated one top official.
Not Just a Legal Issue — A Cultural One
The Council highlighted that government action is needed, but the actual transformation must come from society. The craze for money, gold, and lavish weddings needs to give way to human values, respect for each other, and equality in marriage.
“Do not sell our daughters. Marriage is a union of hearts—not wallets,” retorted a flustered protester.
Conclusion
With over 77,000 cases related to dowry being filed each year—and countless others going unreported—the NCDC called for collective responsibility from families, communities, and the government. The system of dowry, they added, is a moral crisis, and if not taken seriously, will continue to take the lives and dignity of India’s women.
The Council summed up in a national call to action: “Ban dowry in practice, not just in law. Value life—not gold.”
