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Dowry system in India

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In India, dowry (Template:Lang-hi, Dahēja)[1] is the payment in cash or some kind of gifts given to bridegroom's family along with the bride. Generally they include cash, jewellery,[2] electrical appliances, furniture, bedding, crockery, utensils and other household items that help the newlywed set up her home.

The dowry system is thought to put great financial burden[3] on the bride's family. It has been one of the reasons for families and women in India resorting to sex selection[4] in favor of sons.[5] This has distorted the sex ratio of India (940 females per thousand males[6]) and has given rise to female foeticide.[7] The payment of a dowry has been prohibited under The 1961 Dowry Prohibition Act in Indian civil law and subsequently by Sections 304B and 498a of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Prevalence

The trends regarding dowry in India vary across the nation[8] (Bhat 1999). Over the last few decades, there has been an observed transition from the brideprice system, where wealth flows from the groom to the bride’s family, to the dowry system where wealth flows in the opposite direction[9] [8] (Bhat 1999, Rao 1993). According to studies, areas in south India have traditionally practiced the brideprice system, even among upper castes[10] [11] [8] (Bhat 1999, Hutton 1963, Srinivas 1989). In the north, societal differences in marriage led upper castes to practice a dowry system, while in lower classes brideprice was more common[8] (Bhat 1999). In recent years, the dowry system has taken over the brideprice system, and the existing dowry system is becoming more entrenched in cultures that have practiced it traditionally [12] [8] [9] (Bhat 1999, Rao 1993, Srinivasan 2005). According to research, brideprice has been declining since the beginning of the 20th century, and today very little is still in practice. Rather, dowry has been growing both in families participating and in cost across India [9] [8] (Bhat 1999, Rao 1993). Studies show there are also variations on dowry prevalence based on geography and class. States in the north are more likely to participate in the dowry system among all classes, and dowry is more likely to be in the form of material and movable goods [13] (Dalmia 2005). In the south, the brideprice system is still more likely, and is more often in the form of land, or other inheritance goods. This system is tied to the social structure of marriage, which keeps marriage inside or close to family relations [13](Dalmia 2005). Dowry also varies by class, or caste, in India. Upper class families are more likely to engage in the dowry system than the lower class. This could be in part due to women’s economic exclusion from the labor market in upper classes [13][14] (Dalmia 2005, Anderson 2007).

Domestic violence

In 2001 nearly 7,000 dowry deaths[15] were registered in India over inadequate dowry, apart from other mental trauma cases.[16] Bride burning,[17] inducing suicides, physical and mental torture by their husband or in-laws is sometimes found to be done if the bride fails to bring sufficient dowry.[18] There are laws like Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005 that help to reduce domestic violence and to protect women's rights.

Laws

See also: Dowry law in India

Dowry became prohibited by law in 1961 with the purpose of prohibiting the demanding, giving and taking of dowry. Although providing dowry is illegal, it is still common in many parts of India for a husband to seek a dowry from the wife's family, in some cases leading to extortion or violence against the wife. To stop offences of cruelty by the husband or his relatives against the wife, section 498A was added to the Indian Penal Code and section 198A to the Criminal Procedure Code in the year 1983. Section 498A has been criticised by many in India as being prone to misuse.[19] The law was challenged in court, but upheld by the Supreme Court of India in 2005.[20]

Social factors

Economic factors

See also

References

  1. ^ Godrej ‘Nupur Jagruti’- Dahej Ke Khilaf Ek Awaz
  2. ^ "Dowry death: Police recovers Payal's items". Tribune.
  3. ^ "Indian Man Accused of Killing Wife Who Refused to Abort Third Daughter". National Right To Life News Today. May 17, 2011.
  4. ^ "Govt looks to tighten abortion norms". The Times Of India.
  5. ^ Son preference attitude among Indian parents - A silent emergency | TwoCircles.net
  6. ^ Census of India - India at a Glance : Sex Ratio
  7. ^ "Kashmir's 'missing girls'". Agence France-Presse. 2011-05-19.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Bhat, P. N. Mari (1999). "Demography of Brideprice and Dowry: Causes and Consequences of the Indian Marriage Squeeze". Population Studies. 53 (2): 129–148. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b c Rao, V. (1993). "Dowry 'inflation' in rural India: A statistical investigation". Population Studies. 47 (2): 283–293.
  10. ^ Hutton, J.H. (1963). Caste in India: Its Nature, Function and Origins. Bombay: Oxford University Press.
  11. ^ Srinivas, M.N. (1989). The Cohesive Role of Sanskritization and Other Essays. Delhi: Oxford University Press.
  12. ^ Srinivasan, Sharada (2005). "Daughters or Dowries? The Changing Nature of Dowry Practices in South India". World Development. 33 (4): 593–615.
  13. ^ a b c Dalmia, Sonia (2005). "The Institution of Dowry in India: Why It Continues to Prevail". The Journal of Developing Areas. 38 (2): 71–93. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  14. ^ Anderson, Siwan (2007). "The Economics of Dowry and Brideprice". The Journal of Economic Perspectives. 21 (4): 151–174.
  15. ^ Ash, Lucy (2003-07-16). "India's dowry deaths". BBC News.
  16. ^ "Till death do us part". Deccan Herald. 20 May 2011.
  17. ^ "School 'pays dowry' to save girls from childhood marriage". CNN. 2011-06-16.
  18. ^ "Rising dowry cases cast shadow over nuptial knot". The Times of India. 2013-09-17.
  19. ^ "Amend dowry law to stop its misuse, SC tells govt". The Times Of India. 2010-08-17.
  20. ^ "Sushil Kumar Sharma vs Union Of India And Ors on 19 July, 2005". Indiankanoon.org. Retrieved 2013-02-18.
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