Over 7 million women join campaign against dowry in Bihar

Patna: The state government’s campaign against dowry in Bihar has got a boost with 7.2 million rural women associated with a non-governmental organisation (NGO) announcing to join it to rid the state of the social evil which has been claiming many lives every year.

The women are directly or indirectly associated with Jeevika, an NGO working with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in Bihar.

The women made the announcement after the state’s government campaign against dowry. These groups had earlier played a significant role in enforcing the total prohibition by launching an intensive awareness campaign in the society against the alcoholism.

“Dowry is a major social evil and we will lend all support to government’s campaign. A dowry-free society will bring tremendous changes in the state,” said Archana Kumar, coordinator of Jeevika.

The Jeevika activists will launch an intensive social awareness campaign across the country, counsel the families with girls and boys of marriageable age and motivate them to desist from taking and giving dowry. They would also inform them about the devastating impact of dowry on the society.

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has also launched a vigorous campaign against dowry. In his speeches, he has been constantly asking the people to boycott marriage ceremonies of those people who accept dowry.

“Do not participate in a marriage ceremony where you have come to know that dowry has been taken. We have to remove dowry system from our society.” Most of his speeches at the public functions remain primarily centred around eradication of dowry which has deepened its roots in the society.

The issue of dowry has been claiming lives of thousands of women every year in India with Bihar being second in the country regarding dowry deaths in past three years.

According to an official report, around 25,000 women were either killed or committed suicide in the country due to dowry harassment by their in-laws between 2012 and 2014 with Uttar Pradesh reporting 7,048 deaths followed by Bihar with 3,830 deaths. This information was provided to the Lok Sabha by Federal Minister Maneka Gandhi.

Apart from this, around 30,000 cases were registered during the same period under Dowry Prohibition Act.

Muslim groups in neighbouring Jharkhand state have also launched a campaign against dowry with more than 800 families returning dowry to the bride families so far. The campaign, which was launched in Palamu district by social activist Haji Mumtaz Ali, has now spread to many other districts.