Pooja, 22 year old home maker in Rajkot district of Gujarat, dispersed her frustration in a different way. She was unable to tolerate the continuous torture for dowry of her in-laws and husband. And when they turned a deaf ear to her complaints, she walked in her undergarments to the police station to draw attention from police and the law.
The question is- Is the situation of our country so worse that women have to strip off half naked to be heard by the law?
Nikita Sharma (assumed name) another name stands for dare, 34, unmarried. Unmarried because each and every match came to her asked for dowry and demanded a huge amount directly or indirectly. To her guts, she strictly rejects all the matches. In fact her parents have also supported her in this step.
The solution actually lays with the people themselves and the law to be more responsible and defined to the needs of people before they resort to extreme problems like of Pooja Chauhan.
What actually is dowry?
It comprises of either demanding cash or in different kind and when the demand is not met it is followed by physical harassment or abuse.The term ‘Dowry’ includes demand and harassment both. And in Chhattisgarh, we may find many cases of physical harassment and abusing as the woman is unable to fulfil her in-laws’ endless needs. Woman here suffers mainly because she is unaware of her rights.
Dowry in Chhattisgarh
Chattisgarh is mostly covered with rural area. And such dowry cases are common in rural areas only. Because of illiteracy or less knowledge about their rights, women never dare to step ahead to stand against this social evil. They even don’t know that they can be helped by the women commission and they can be saved easily if they step forward. Every woman can get relief only in one condition, when she dares up and comes forward to fight for her rights. They need to know their rights while the ratio of awareness here is too low. Educate your daughter, so that she can defend herself.
Daughter- A short-lived property
She is called a ‘paraya dhan’ right from the birth itself. When she steps on to the earth, her parents start stashing money for her marriage. Once entered into adolescence, she is taught how to behave with others and every possible thing. No issues…how she is being treated…but she should treat everyone with respect. She is least taught that dowry is an offence as if people hardly know about it. They have to be informed that demanding and giving dowry is a crime.
Being encouraged
If people prefer providing dowry to the bridegroom’s family, they are of course encouraging this culture. Generally it was being given the bridegroom so that the girl can have facilities at her new home but with change of time, instead of a gift it turned out to be a menace, due to rising demand and considered as the ‘right to ask’.
The need of hour is to help those being harassed for dowry. Refuse the in-laws to pay dowry and stop asking it from bride’s family too. Let’s hope that eventually, dowry will die one day. Take action: ‘The only simple step is call up the police station whenever you find such cases’, suggests Zulekha. “The culprit will be punished without delay. Be a true citizen. Save yourselves and many others who are being tortured for dowry.”
Deaths due to dowry in India
The custom of dowry has become a curse to our society. In case of dowry, there is no class or caste difference but middle class families are considered to be the worst sufferers of this nuisance. Mostly women commit suicide when she is unable to bear the harassment and torture. Sometimes they are flamed to ashes or killed somehow. The word ‘Dowry’ should be again replaced with the ‘gifts’ that parents wish to give their daughter.
Without the conscience of the people, this consciousness will fade one day. It is a journey that each of us can begin easily, because the victims and offenders of dowry are within reach. They are either our relatives or family members.
Government too has made many laws regarding this offense. Both economically and physically.
Educate daughters!!!
There are 
parents who don’t lay enough emphasis on educating their daughters. They believe their daughters will get married eventually, and husbands will support them, so why push them so hard? Poor sections of society rather send their daughters out to work and earn some money, to help them save up for her dowry. And those who belong to middle and upper class backgrounds do send their daughters to school, but don’t highlight career options.
Get serious about your daughter’s education. Encourage her to have a career of her own, no matter what your financial condition is. Let her be independent and decisive.
Instead of giving her dowry, gift her great career, so people shouldn’t’ take her as a huge responsibility but respect her. So if they treat her badly, she can walk out on her own strength.
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