Prevention of Dowry Death : Poster Making Competition by LJRF Center for Women & Children (Date extended to 15th February 2024)

Greetings from LJRF Center for Women and Children!

The dowry system refers to the durable goods, cash, and real or movable property that the bride’s family gives to the groom, his parents and his relatives on marriage. This practice has been a long standing practice which has evolved into a social evil over time. It has led to so many instance the commission of violence against women which necessitated legal measures against this. Thus, the Indian penal code which originally enacted didn’t not contain many of the provisions for protection of women was amended to include those provisions. S. 498A was introduced in 1983 and S. 304B was introduced in 1986. While S. 498A protect women from cruelty of husband or relatives of husband demanding dowry, S. 304B deals with dowry death. When death of woman is caused by any burns, or bodily injury, or occurs otherwise than under natural circumstances with in seven years of marriage, and it’s shown that soon before her death a demand for dowry was made or cruelty was committed on such woman, S. 304B comes into play. Husband and his relatives are held accountable for such death.The Central government had also implemented the Dowry Prohibition Act in 1961 as a specific legislation to deal with this particular issue alone which highlights its deep rootedness and severity. Thus, despite the legal acknowledged of dowry as a social evil, the despicable practice still continues in our society. This practice has claimed so many lives and continues to trouble many more.