There has been a rise in cases registered in context with dowry in Jammu and Kashmir last year compared to 2021, NCRB data revealed.
In overall context, as many as 13,534 cases were registered in the country under the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 last year alone, a 25% rise compared to the cases registered in 2020 (10,046), the data revealed.
Over, J&K has recorded a 9.5 percent increase in cognizable offences and there has been a rise of 15 percent in crime cases against women, as per the report.
In all, 6589 dowry-related deaths were reported in the country. A total of 6,966 cases of such deaths were reported in 2020 even as numbers stood at 7,141 in 2019 and 7,167 in 2018 respectively. In all, as many 10,366 cases were registered under the Dowry Prohibition Act in 2020 against 13,307 in 2019 and 12,826 cases in 2018.
Overall the data suggests that many women continue to be victims of dowry related matters. Nevertheless it is not the perfect picture of the problem in the society given the fact not many women come forward and report what they are made to bear. A woman resigns her fate to the never ending cycle of enduring violence and discrimination as a daughter, a sister, a wife, a mother, a partner or a single woman in her lifetime.
This is happening despite the fact the progress of any society depends on its ability to protect and promote the rights of its women.
As was observed by the top court, the “non-retaliation” by women coupled with the absence of laws addressing women’s issues, ignorance of the existing laws enacted for women and societal attitude makes the women vulnerable.
The women still being forced to take extreme steps for dowry or harassment in contemporary times should enrage one and all. Above all, the entire society should rise above the occasion and let the home be a place that does not imperil lives and breeds the most drastic forms of violence perpetrated against her.
It will surely take more than executive interventions to end the dowry system as it prevails within the private space of family. In fact, resistance arising from within the institutions of marriage and family will be more effective in curbing the practice. The overall empowerment of women, more so economically, will be a great help as lack of financial independence forces her to stay in a violent relationship.
