కట్న కానుకలకు ముకుతాడు...?

భారతీయ సమాజంలో ఆడపిల్లల పట్ల చిన్నచూపునకు కారణమైన అనేక అంశాలలో కట్నం ప్రధానమైనది. ఆడపిల్లను కని పెంచాక కట్నం ఇవ్వడం కష్టం కాబట్టి ఆమెను గర్భంలోనో, పుట్టీపుట్టగానో చిదిమేస్తున్న కిరాతకానికి అంతే  లేదు. కట్నం తేలేదని భార్యలను హింసించే భర్తలకు కొదవే లేదు. ఉన్నత చదువులు చదువుకున్న వారు సైతం కట్నం మీద మక్కువ చూపడం, దోచుకోవడం రివాజుగా మారింది.
ఈ సమయంలో కేంద్ర పభుత్వం కట్న కానుకల నిర్వచనాల మీద దృష్టి  పెట్టింది. అందుకు సంబంధించిన వార్త ఇది.


A COMMITTEE set up by the ministry of women and child development( WCD) has proposed widening the definition of dowry to include property or valuables given for “ uninterrupted or peaceful sustenance of marriage”. The panel, consisting of 13 members including representatives from the law and justice and the home affairs ministries, was set up to review the Dowry Prohibition ( Amendment) Bill 2010 after the WCD ministry received representations against the proposed changes.

Following a fresh round of regional and national- level consultation, the committee has suggested that the definition of dowry should be broadened by adding an explanation paragraph to the anti- dowry law.
Under the Dowry Prohibition Act 1961, dowry has been described as any property or valuable security given, directly or indirectly, at, before or anytime after the marriage and in connection with the marriage.
According to the panel’s suggestion, a new explanation paragraph would further elucidate the phrase ‘ in connection with marriage’ to clearly include demands made even after the wedding, that threaten the peaceful continuity of the marriage.

Another amendment suggested by the panel would, for the first time, enlist the people entitled to inherit the “ gifts” received by the women at the time of marriage, in case of her unnatural death.
According to ministry sources, the “ gifts” and stridhan given to the bride would be first inherited by her children, then her siblings and her parents, failing which it would go to the state. Interestingly, even the husband will be entitled to the inheritance if he is not accused in her death and his right would precede those of her sibling and parents.

For the uninitiated, a number of changes have been made to the anti- dowry law before the WCD ministry’s latest attempt in shape of the Dowry Prohibition ( Amendment) Bill, 2010. But in the wake of several complaints received against the proposed amendments, the National Commission for Women ( NCW) held further consultation at the request of the ministry.
Thereafter, the ministry held a regional consultation on November 17, 2011, and a national consultation on January 12, 2012, with representatives of the state governments, the police and legal experts, among others.
The review committee was given the responsibility of re- examining the amendments in light of fresh consultation.

The ministry, however, is yet to take a final view on the recommendations.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau, dowry deaths have been increasing. In 2011, around 8,600 cases were registered under the anti- dowry law as against 3,204 cases in 2004.
Girija Vyas, former chairperson of NCW said the WCD ministry is taking inordinately long to finalise its amendments.
“ Dowry deaths have been increasing every year. It has been almost two years and the ministry hasn’t yet finalised its amendments. It should not take this long,” she said.

WIDENING OF THE DEFINITION

EXPLANATION : “ The expression in ‘ connection with marriage’ * will mean and include any act or omission in the context of the property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly that would have the effect of imposing a condition in any manner whatsoever to the formation of the marriage or the continuance of the marriage in a peaceful & uninterrupted manner”.
* The definition of dowry includes any property or valuable given ‘ in connection with marriage’.

PANEL’S PROPOSALS

Word ‘ presents’ to be substituted with ‘ gifts’
‘ Stridhan’ to be clearly defined as gifts made before nuptial fire and at the bridal procession, gifts made as a token of love by her father- in- law and mother- in- law and those made at the time of the bride making obeisance to elders, gifts made by father, mother and brother- in- law of the bride, dower and mahr in the case of persons to whom the Muslim Personal Law applies
List of gifts ( irrespective of their value) to be maintained by both parties and given to the dowry prohibition officer within one month of the wedding
Order of preference for inheritance of the gifts and ‘ stridhan’ given to women, in case of her unnatural death, ( where the husband is accused) should be children, siblings, parents, failing which it should go to the state.

courtesy: Mail Today.