Dowry

Dowry system is still a social evil that is widely prevalent in Indian society. It is another manifestation of the patriarchal structure of India. There are strong links between dowry and domestic violence. From 2011 to 2018, around 63000 deaths, where dowry was the sole cause of death, have been recorded. “The Dowry prohibition Act, 1961” prohibits the request, payment or acceptance of a dowry as a “consideration for the marriage,” where dowry is defined as a gift demanded or given as a precondition for a marriage. The law has been made more stringent with “Section 498a of the Indian Penal Code,” enacted in 1983.

Laadli foundation organises awareness camps where our panel of experts talks about the legal provisions under “The Dowry prohibition Act, 1961” and “Section 498a (IPC),” and how the victims can use these legal provisions. We have also provided counselling to the victims. Because there are a large number of cases where women unlawfully use section 498a to harass families they are married to, our legal experts also spread awareness about the responsible and lawful use 498a.