(i) Dowry: We have heard the term dowry at the time of marriage in your family or neighbourhood. Dowry is payment in cash and kind to the family of the bridegroom by the father of the bride at the time of marriage. The payment of dowry was prevalent in upper castes previously. But now-a-days, the demand and payment of dowry have entered almost every section of the society in one form or the other. Modern education has played a significant role in increasing the rate of dowry. The more educated the boy, the higher is the demand for dowry. Involvement of women in the demand of dowry is most unfortunate.

(ii) Dowry as an evil social practice:

(a) Giving dowry on one's own will is different from taking dowry by force. Each family has a budget for the marriage of a daughter. Every family has a wish to send its daughter to a family so that she could live happily. But when the demand for dowry exceeds its budget, it feels helpless. Another inhuman behaviour is demand of dowry even after marriage.

(b) In our country 4215 dowry deaths were reported in 1989. They increased to 6699 in 1999. It is very unfortunate that seven thousand married women have to meet dowry deaths each year in our country.

(c) Our Government is fully aware of this unlawful and inhuman behaviour prevalent in our society. The Government has made the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1976. According to this Act, giving and taking dowry have been made punishable in the form of fine and punishment.

(d) When the Act came into force, some dowry givers and takers were punished. But dowry was not eradicated. In recent years, temptations for wealth and consumer goods have made the demand and payment of dowry more complicated, exploitative and oppressive.