NEW DELHI – Dowry is still widespread in our country. 3 out of five Indians pay dowry on their daughter’s marriage says a recent survey by NDTV. Haryana, which has the worst gender ratio in the country, tops the dowry list. Gujarat was seated at the bottom of the list.
The three highest paying dowry states were noted to be Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh with a percentage of 94, 88 and 80 respectively. While, the lowest dowry paying states were noted to be Gujarat, West Bengal and Maharashtra showing a percentage of 20, 27 and 40 respectively.
However, the country’s dowry law seems set to be fixed. There have been changes proposed by the women and child development ministry that will make accepting dowry a bigger crime than giving it.
As per the amendments mooted to the Dowry Prohibition Act, failure to maintain a list of gifts, including jewellery, exchanged during marriage will also now be punishable with a jail term extending from six months to one year.
The survey had another interesting question – On whose education would you spend more money, your son or your daughter? The poll revealed that Indians say it is equally important to educate sons’ and daughters’ and hence, they would spend equally on sons’ and daughters’ education with 79 percent in support of it.
The poll was carried out in 125 constituencies spread over 18 states (these account for over 20 percent of the 543 Lok Sabha seats). Each Lok Sabha constituency was chosen using a statistical formula based on voting patterns of 2009 Lok Sabha Elections.
