Dowry death: One bride burnt every hour

Subodh Varma, TNN Jan 27, 2012, 03.32AM IST

NEW DELHI: In a crime that is prevalent only in India, greedy husbands and his relatives harass the newly wed bride for getting more dowry, and often kill her in the process. And, very often, she is burnt alive. This horror is therefore called bride-burning or in official terms, dowry death. In 2010, there were 8391 reported cases of dowry death in the country. That works out to a shocking one death every hour approximately. Bride-burning is on the increase - just a decade ago, in 2000, there were 6995 cases. Dowry is an ancient tradition among the upper castes but its spread among all sections of society probably in the late nineteenth century. With increasing commercialization this acquired a new meaning - it became an opportunity for men and their families to get their hands on cash, jewellery, durables, and various other commodities. Although the government prohibited dowry through legislation in 1961, it was never implemented properly. Prohibition officers were supposed to have been appointed in each district, taking the battle to the grassroots but nothing happened. And, the tide of greed driven murder of young brides continued unabated. In 1986, under huge pressure from the women's movement, the Indian penal Code was amended to include section 304B, specifically against murder following harassment for dowry. Section 498A was added to define harassment and cruelty by husbands and his relatives. Strangely this too has not had much effect. Laxity of the government machinery can be one reason for the failure of legal measures. After all, conviction rates in bride burning cases have dipped from an already weak 37% in 2000 to 34% in 2010. In section 498A cases, the conviction rates are even lower: just 19%, although reported cases were 94,000 in 2010. But perhaps the primary reason for spread of this cancer has been the almost complete absence of any public campaign or mobilization against it for the past 25 years. As a result, girls are considered a burden on the parents, families go bankrupt trying to get their daughters married off, choice in forming relations is frowned upon and thousands - maybe lakhs - of youngwomen suffer violence silently behind closed doors.

'Like dowry, denying royalty is a typical Indian problem'

Sonu Nigam claims that music companies owe him around Rs 100 crores and talks about his son Nevaan and his upcoming projects. Excerpts from the chat: You're spearheading the cause for singers on the copyright issue, any progress? A small victory is that the Indian Performing Rights Organization (IPRO) has acknowledged the Indian Singers Rights Association (ISRA), but the war isn't won yet. We're not going to revolt and agitate since at the end of the day the filmmakers and music companies are our colleagues. We just want to impress upon them that tomorrow anyone can become a singer, Bhushan Kumar's sister is a singer too, so it is in their interest to give us our due so aged and out-of-work singers can lead a dignified life. Like Sati and dowry, this is a typical Indian problem. No other country denies its singers royalty. But here it's a one-time payment which is unfair when you consider that a song like I'm a Disco Dancer is playing even 30 years later, not just in India but in Russia, Africa and the Middle East. Ditto for many of my chartbusters. Let others keep their share, but give us our share too. So it's an issue of payment? No, the issue is copyright, and illegal, predated, feudal contracts that makes the singer feel bonded. ISRA itself is a Copyright Society accepted by the centre. How much royalty should you have got by now? More than Rs 100 crores, given all my hits. God has given me a lot and I'm willing to forfeit the entire amount in lieu of legitimate royalty rules. You are obviously campaigning for your son Nevaan's future? Not just Nevaan's future, but the future of all artistes. Your son has been singing live at concerts, when will he flag off his playback career? He is only six, I don't want to taint his growth and tarnish his innocence by turning him into a professional singer at this age. He's an achcha bachcha, always happy and smiling. Let him stay that way, his dad will do the singing professionally. But we don't even hear too much of you these days? I've sung two songs for Raj Kumar Hirani's PK, a beautiful number for Daawat-e-Ishq and one for Kill Dill. You composed the title track for Singh Saab The Great, planning a switch? I am a musician, so giving music isn't difficult. That song was even programmed by me. But composing is a full-time job and given all my other commitments, a switch isn't feasible at this time. But I have composed the score for the recently released Sooper Se Ooper and the upcoming Jal and Happy Anniversary. Jal has a brilliant track by Shubha Mudgal and

Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan went crazy when they heard the two songs I'd set to tune for Happy Anniversary. Reportedly you had differences with the producers of Sooper Se Ooper? I wasn't angry but I was a bit perturbed by the low-key promotions. It was a decent film and deserved better promotions. Any plans of a private album? After the song with Britney Spears I was working with Universal but that project has been delayed. But Khamakha, my world music album with Bickram Ghosh, who has collaborated with me on my film scores, should be out in a few months. I'm also coming out with a single which was first performed on MTV Unplugged. And when will we see you back on TV? I've hosted and judged several shows, but now I'm bored of doing the same thing even though it's good money. You're planning to graduate to films? Nope, that's not on the agenda, even though I'm getting a lot of offers. I don't want to give up 100 days from my life for a film unless it's worth it. I'd rather spend time with my dad and my son. I'm not ambitious. I've seen my grandfather and mother die and want to make the most of my life. Legends like Mohd. Rafi, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, Kishore Kumar have gone away and the music hasn't stopped. It never will.

Misuse of dowry act provision

BANGALORE: The high court on Monday asked the government to spell out its stand on amending the act relating to dowry harassment. Observing that section 498 A of the Indian Penal Code relating to dowry harassment was being misused, the division bench headed by Justice K Bhakthavatsala said: It is being increasingly misused because as per the Act when a woman files a complaint, police register the case. And without verifying the correctness of the case, they arrest the husband and his family members.'' The bench suggested that instead of police directly registering the case, the victim can file a complaint with the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority. After three or six months, if the case/complaint is genuine, police can take further action. "It will reduce the number of divorce cases and also avoid the misuse of 498A provision," observed the bench while hearing a petition related to a domestic violence incident.

Woman murdered for dowry

KANPUR: A housewife was murdered for dowry in Maharajpur police limits. Her father lodged an FIR stating that his daughter Vijay Lakshmi, married to Deshraj of Hathipur village a few years back, was murdered by her husband other members of his family for dowry. The accused were demanding cash, besides a television and a motorcycle. Lakshmi was mercilessly beaten up and hanged to death by her in-laws on Wednesday, he stated.

'Dowry demanded through SMS'

BHOPAL: The dowry demand by the IAS officer on probation and his family was allegedly made through an SMS, the police said, a day after registering a dowry case against the officer on the complaint of additional director general (ADG) Swarn Singh's wife. The case is being investigated by the Habibganj police. Police said the charges levelled against the probationary IAS officer, Harjinder Singh, who is posted in Hoshangabad, and whose family is based in Chandigarh, are being corroborated. Meanwhile, a police officer was also sent to Hoshangabad on Wednesday to question the accused however, he returned clueless. A police team would again go to Hoshangabad on Thursday, the officers added. Their daughter's marriage was fixed in the month of April after which the dowry demand allegedly running in crore was made. It has come to notice that the family of the complainant had received an SMS demanding dowry, said town inspector, SK Damle.

Girl refuses to marry after grooms kin demands dowry

KANPUR: A girl taught dowry-seekers a lesson as she refused to marry after the groom's family demanded a four-wheeler in dowry from her parents in Mainpuri district. Vandana, a native of Bewar area of Mainpuri district, refused to marry Dharmendra Singh, a resident of Etah, as he had demanded a four-wheeler from her family in dowry. Vandana, who is pursuing her graduation from a local degree college, Mainpuri, took this bold step on Wednesday when she came to know that her would-be husband was a greedy man.

The incident came to light on Friday after girl's family apprised local police about the matter. The girl refused to marry the boy despite the fact that their marriage was to be solemnised on Nov 13, and most of her relatives and friends had arrived at the venue to attend the wedding. Vandana, who had been engaged to Dharmendra few months ago, was disappointed when her would be in-laws called her father Rakshapal Shakya on late Wednesday evening and demanded a car in dowry, said her neighbour Vivek, while talking to TOI. The family members of the girl had already purchased a two-wheeler for the boy but the latter's parents told them that he would not accept two-wheeler and insisted for a fourwheeler, her neighbour added. The girl's family pleaded that all arrangements had been made. But Dharmendra's family, refused to budge. When Vandana came to know about the demand, she decided not to marry such a greedy person. She said if he was demanding a four-wheeler before marriage, he might make more demands after marriage and she would not be able to live a comfortable life with such a person. Her father told TOI that he is proud of his daughter and added he has lodged a case against the boy and his family in this regard as they wanted to teach the dowry-hungry persons a lesson.

Woman sets self ablaze over dowry demand

ALYAN: A-30 year old woman was critical after she set herself on fire over a dowry demand from her husband and his family at Ramnagar in Dombivli (W) on Wednesday. The police booked her husband, Sayyed Shaikh (30), Balmiya (55), the father-in-law, Halima (50), the mother-in-law, and three others. Tamanna Shaikh suffered 75% burns. Her mother, Aasma (50), alleged that since she married Sayyed, his family started harassing her for dowry. She said in her complaint that her daughter paid money to her in-laws several times over five years. The police have registered a case of dowry harassment. - Pradeep Gupta

Reduce Muslim wedding costs, do away with dowry

These are the people who took pride in their big, fat weddings. Baraatis would comprise hundreds and feasts at the bride's place would continue for three days. And dowry, both in cash and kind, had hit the roof. Now the same tribe is curtailing the number of baraatis, the amount of food served at weddings and has done away with dowry. Called Islah-e-Muashra (Reforms of Society), the movement of Muslims from Ghazipur (UP), is getting a good reception in Mumbai. Islah-e-Muashra's city wing called the Mumbai Forum is convening a meeting of over 2000 participants at Mackichan Hall in Girgaum today to discuss how to make the initiative more effective. Muslim migrants from Ghazipur have joined hands with relatives back home to root out the system of dowry. Though the first Islah-e-Muashra of Ghazipur was started in 1910, the latest move began in 2011. Five friendsAsif Khan, Ghulam Mohammed Siddiqui, Akbar Khan, Javed Khan and Inam Khantook upon themselves the task ofending dowry. "In 2010 alone people in Ghazipur sold land worth Rs 10 crore to fund their daughters' weddings. Till a few years ago, baraatis would come in more than 20 cars and dowry items would be carted away in trucks. This has now substantially reduced," says Asif Khan, nephew of famous Urdu journalist Haroon Rashid Alig, who was part of a similar movement in the 1980s. According to the 15-point charter, baraatis will number not more than seven, including the groom. No lavish food will be served at the bride's place and the nikah will be preferably performed at the local mosque. Unlike in the past when brides were expected to be bejeweled and carry a variety of things to the groom's house, dowry has been curtailed to a few essentials. Now the bride will carry silver jewelry, one palang (cot), bed-sheets and pillows, a quilt, a prayer mat and a copy of the Quran. "There is no concept of either demanding or giving dowry lavishly in Islam. It has to be modest. We are trying to follow what the Sharia prescribes," says Ishtiaque Khan. "The rich have to set the example. The poor pawn their little landed property and borrow money at exorbitant rates to arrange for dowry. This has to stop." Part of the movement is also Dukhtari Haq (Rights of the Daughters). "Don't give dowry to your daughters, give her rights in the ancestral property" is the movement's catchphrase. "A daughter is entitled to half of the son's share in her father's property. She inherits less because after marriage it is her husband's duty to take care of her," explains senior cleric Maulana Shoeb Koti. Significantly, the movement is being backed by different sects of the community. "Despite our ideological differences, all the sects like Deobandis, Sunnis, Ahle Hadees, Barelvis agree that the evil of dowry needs to be eradicated," says Ashraf Ali Khan. The Pathans of Ghazipur areleading a silent revolution, both in Mumbai and elsewhere.

Former Cong MLA booked for demanding dowry to fund poll campaign

TNN Sep 26, 2013, 10.33AM IST

BHOPAL: A former Congress MLA from Chhindwara district of Madhya Pradesh was booked for allegedly demanding a dowry of Rs 20 lakh to fund his poll campaign. The complaint was lodged by his daughter-in-law at Seoni-Malwa police station in Hoshangabad on Tuesday evening. Police have sent the case diary to Chhindwara for further investigation on Wednesday. Police said Congress leader Gambhir Singh Chaudhary's daughter-in-law, Kanchan Raghuvanshi, has accused him and his son Vikram Singh Chaudhary of demanding dowry. "In her complaint, she alleged that Chaudhary is demanding a dowry of Rs 20 lakh to fund his election campaign," Manoj Dubey, a police officer at Seoni Malwa police station told TOI. A case was lodged and the complaint was forwarded to Chhindwara for further probe as the accused are residents of Narsinghpur Road under Chhindwara police station, Dubey sid. The Chhindwara police, however, said it is yet to receive the complaint to kick off a probe. Superintendent of police, Chhindwara, Purushottam Sharma said, "I was informed by senior officials of Hoshangabad about the case. But it has not been received. Investigations would be started as soon as the complaint is received here".

Rising dowry cases cast shadow over nuptial knot

BHUBANESWAR: Marriages are made in heaven. But the fates of many brides seem to be decided by the 'dowry' factor, if the recent finding of National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is any indication. Dowry, although banned by law but never seriously enforced, is found to be the second major motive behind murders in Odisha in 2012, setting a disturbing trend for the fair sex in society. Statistics have revealed that dowry was allegedly responsible for 28.5 percent of the murders last year, statistics said The pernicious tradition of dowry, which is still prevalent in many Indian families, has witnessed an upward trend in the state in the past two years. Going by NCRB statistics, altogether 1,487 dowry torture cases were reported in Odisha last year, as against 1,062 in 2011. Odisha stood second after Andhra Pradesh, which recorded 2,511 dowry torture cases last year. Several families of repute were dragged to police stations and courts by their daughters-inlaw in the past. Former Odisha minister Raghunath Mohanty and his wife were arrested on

March 30 this year for allegedly torturing their daughter-in-law. Amid growing public outcry, Mohanty had to step down from the ministry. Former Ranji cricketer Sanjay Satpathy was arrested in Bhubaneswar on December 12 last year on charges of torturing his wife for dowry. Odia actor Sweta Mishra on July 12 lodged a complaint of dowry torture against her husband at Mahila police station here. In Odisha, while 465 women were allegedly murdered for dowry in 2011, the number rose to 525 last year, the NCRB report said. Dowry suicides, however, declined to 82 in 2012 from 127 in 2011. The big question lies as to why the social evil is rearing its head almost every day and whether the police ever thought of strategies to effectively counter the menace. Senior police officers have no answer for the rise in dowry cases, but claimed to have taken measures to sensitize people against dowry. "We have been spreading awareness through women and child development and voluntary organizations. Victims are being encouraged to lodge complaints, so that it sends a strong message against dowry. We are not showing leniency to the accused in such cases," DGP Prakash Mishra said. Bhubaneswar witnessed an alarming rise in dowry torture cases in the past two years. From 159 cases in 2011, the figure soared to 288. When asked about the spurt in dowry cases, police said registration of more cases does not mean that brides are unsafe at their in-laws' houses. "Earlier, dowry victims were hesitating to lodge complaints. Now, our focus is on free and fair registration of cases," said a police officer. Some social activists said the police should not only investigate dowry cases on a priority basis, it should also ensure that dowry law is not misused. "Taking advantage of stringent laws, some women deliberately frame their in-laws and husbands in false cases. Without acting in haste, the police should properly verify the charges," said Nirupama Nanda, a woman activist

India 'dowry deaths' still rising despite modernization

Crime statistics and a Gender Scorecard compiled by women's rights activists have put chilling new perspective on an age-old social ill in India: Bride-burning and other "dowry crimes" take the life of a woman every hour. Despite a rapidly expanding middle class, enviable economic growth and measurable strides in modernization since India's 1947 independence, dowry deaths continue to rise year on year, as does

the related plague of "cruelty by husband and relatives" -- the crime defined as torture committed against women in pursuit of more marriage bounty from their parents. India's National Crime Records Bureau last week reported that 8,233 Indian women were killed in 2012 in dowry-related violence, or nearly one per hour. The incidence of dowry deaths grew by nearly 3% over the previous five years, and torture at the hands of a husband or family increased by 5.4%, with 99,135 cases reported by survivors in 2011. The scope of the problems is likely to be wider than the statistics suggest, as many women and their parents are reluctant to seek prosecution for fear of scandal that would destroy their other daughters' chances of getting married, analysts say. Sociologists and women's rights advocates attribute the disturbingly persistent trends to rising consumerism in India, where once-scarce and unaffordable goods like appliances and motor vehicles are now available but still beyond the reach of many families. Bride-burning and other fatal attacks over disappointing dowries began tapering off after independence as education and income levels began a slow rising trend, said Vishakha Desai, a former president of the Asia Society and professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. In 1961, Parliament passed the Dowry Prohibition Act, banning the payment of dowries as a condition for marriage. But the law is widely ignored, said Desai, especially among those newly elevated from poverty to the middle class. "What has happened in the last 25-30 years as India has become much more conscious of material possessions is that it has come back with a vengeance," she said of the fatal abuses. "You have dowry demands for things like a refrigerator or a motor scooter. It's no longer about jewelry or things a woman could hold on to as her own." For centuries tradition dictated that the bride's family provide her with gold, jewelry and a trousseau as she left her parental home to live with her in-laws, a way of ensuring her a degree of economic security, said Desai. In many ways modernization has made the problem worse, she noted. Online dating services in India make it easier for parents to check out the social and economic status of potential spouses for their children and vet their preferred candidates before the prospective couples even meet. The persistent abuse of young brides by in-laws seeking more dowry is just one of numerous dangers faced by women that has been detailed in the 2013 Gender Scorecard compiled by Radha Kumar of the Delhi Policy Group think tank. Another disturbing trend is the falling "sex ratio" in India, where there are now only 940 women for each 1,000 men because of a cultural preference for boys over girls. The gender determination now available from ultrasound early in a pregnancy apparently has led to more terminations of female fetuses, analysts have concluded.

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India 'dowry deaths' still rising despite modernization

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In a 2004 photo, women at a New Delhi shelter for victims of dowry violence (Elizabeth Dalziel / Associated)

Crime statistics and a Gender Scorecard compiled by women's rights activists have put chilling new perspective on an age-old social ill in India: Bride-burning and other "dowry crimes" take the life of a woman every hour. Despite a rapidly expanding middle class, enviable economic growth and measurable strides in modernization since India's 1947 independence, dowry deaths continue to rise year on year, as does the related plague of "cruelty by husband and relatives" -- the crime defined as torture committed against women in pursuit of more marriage bounty from their parents. India's National Crime Records Bureau last week reported that 8,233 Indian women were killed in 2012 in dowry-related violence, or nearly one per hour. The incidence of dowry deaths grew by nearly 3% over the previous five years, and torture at the hands of a husband or family increased by 5.4%, with 99,135 cases reported by survivors in 2011. The scope of the problems is likely to be wider than the statistics suggest, as many women and their parents are reluctant to seek prosecution for fear of scandal that would destroy their other daughters' chances of getting married, analysts say.

Sociologists and women's rights advocates attribute the disturbingly persistent trends to rising consumerism in India, where once-scarce and unaffordable goods like appliances and motor vehicles are now available but still beyond the reach of many families. Bride-burning and other fatal attacks over disappointing dowries began tapering off after independence as education and income levels began a slow rising trend, said Vishakha Desai, a former president of the Asia Society and professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. In 1961, Parliament passed the Dowry Prohibition Act, banning the payment of dowries as a condition for marriage. But the law is widely ignored, said Desai, especially among those newly elevated from poverty to the middle class. "What has happened in the last 25-30 years as India has become much more conscious of material possessions is that it has come back with a vengeance," she said of the fatal abuses. "You have dowry demands for things like a refrigerator or a motor scooter. It's no longer about jewelry or things a woman could hold on to as her own." For centuries tradition dictated that the bride's family provide her with gold, jewelry and a trousseau as she left her parental home to live with her in-laws, a way of ensuring her a degree of economic security, said Desai. In many ways modernization has made the problem worse, she noted. Online dating services in India make it easier for parents to check out the social and economic status of potential spouses for their children and vet their preferred candidates before the prospective couples even meet. The persistent abuse of young brides by in-laws seeking more dowry is just one of numerous dangers faced by women that has been detailed in the 2013 Gender Scorecard compiled by Radha Kumar of the Delhi Policy Group think tank. Another disturbing trend is the falling "sex ratio" in India, where there are now only 940 women for each 1,000 men because of a cultural preference for boys over girls. The gender determination now available from ultrasound early in a pregnancy apparently has led to more terminations of female fetuses, analysts have concluded.

The Gender Scorecard also noted that prosecution and conviction rates for crimes against women are abysmally low and discourage already reluctant victims from seeking justice. Convictions are secured in only 24% of rape cases and the rate is 33% for those accused of killing women in the course of trying to extort more dowry from their families, Kumar said in a televised discussion on violence against women on NDTV. Suman Nalwa, of the Delhi Police unit responsible for crimes against women and children, told the Press Trust of India that violence by those in pursuit of dowries is seen at all economic levels. "The higher socio-economic strata is equally involved in such practices," she said. "Even the highly educated class of our society do not say no to dowry. It runs deep into our social system." Ranjana Kumari, another women's rights activist, laid the blame for barbaric attacks on young brides to a "culture of greed" that pervades all levels of Indian society.

"Marriages have become commercialized. It's like a business proposition where the groom and his family make exorbitant demands," she was quoted as saying by the Times of India. "And the wealthier the family, the more outrageous the demands."