Date:17/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/17/stories/2006091719580300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Greater awareness needed to check dowry menace: Minister

Staff Reporter

`People should aid Government efforts in ending the practice'

Dowry prevention officers will look into cases of acceptance or demand for dowry

`There are adequate laws to deal with the menace of dowry'

BANGALORE: Officials of the Women and Child Welfare Department were now empowered to investigate under Dowry Prohibition (Karnataka) Rules 2004, cases of dowry apart from creating awareness, preventing and monitoring the violations of the law, Additional Director-General of Police (Prisons) S.T. Ramesh said on Saturday.

Some of these officers had been designated as dowry prevention officers (DPO). He said the job included looking into cases of acceptance or demand for dowry, creating awareness and preventing and monitoring the evil of dowry. He said dowry was a social evil.

Mr. Ramesh was speaking at a legal workshop organised for officials at the Karnataka Judicial Academy by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority and the Department of Women and Child Welfare on anti-dowry laws.

He spoke to the officials of the department on the provisions of the Dowry Prevention Act and other Acts.

He said the department had concurrent jurisdiction on the issue along with the police. He said the DPOs should mainly function as watchdogs and people should fear them.

Centuries ago, he said, male mortality was very high and women had not many avenues to earn. Since marriages were conducted at a very young age, dowry was mainly given in the form of gold and ornaments so that it could be a security to them.

This system had crystallised into the current form of dowry where money, ornaments or articles were being demanded as a right.

Minister for Women and Child Welfare H.K. Kumaraswamy said there was a need for greater awareness to curb the evil of dowry and educate people about its ill-effects.

He said people should support the Government efforts in curbing the menace.

Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court Cyriac Joseph said a discussion was needed to find out the reasons for dowry cases. He said there were adequate laws to deal with the menace of dowry.

Judge of the High Court H.L. Dattu and executive chairman of the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority V. Gopala Gowda were among those present.