Voice against Dowry System
Dowry system is a practice of giving money or property or some kinds of special gifts at the marriage of a daughter by the father (sister by the brother) to bridegroom or bridegroom’s family. Generally dowry includes cash payment, jewels of diamond, gold or silver, electrical appliances, furniture items, bedding, chair, table, land, utensils and other household products which help the newly married couple to set up her home. Dowry is known as ‘Daijo’ in Nepali and ‘Dahej’ in Hindi, Maithali, Vojpuri language. It is a social dangerous evil of our country Nepal. It is mainly common in Terai Madhesh region, southern part of Nepal but now it is spreading over other parts of the country instead of being solved.
This dowry system has affected our society very badly and seriously. Dowry deaths are occurring day by day in our society. Many daughters-in-law and wives are physically and mentally tortured due to the lack of dowry. This system has made fun of equality of women.
Nowadays marriage is supposed as lottery of making money. But thinking like this, is a social crime. Bridegroom’s family must not treat marriage as a lottery. It is harmful for society.
The bridegroom’s side openly demands the dowry before arranging the marriage. If the dowry is not as much as it was agreed, the groom sometimes leaves the marriage and puts the future of bride in the dark. It has been very difficult for the daughters of poor parents to get married. Many parents save money for the daughter’s marriage instead of spending of her education.
To prohibit the demanding, giving and taking of Dowry, to reduce and eliminate the Dowry system in Nepal, Dowry Prohibition Act is in. The Law, dowry act, rule and regulation of Nepal definitely helps to prevent the social evil dowry. But to make the Law effective and fruitful, people of Nepal must follow the Law, rules.
The dowry system in Nepal will remains unless there is a strong awareness in the minds of the Nepalese people. The dowry system will increases in Nepal unless the entire Nepalese society believes that dowry is a social evil. The dowry system will not reduce in Nepal unless the entire Nepalese society objects the demanding for dowry. The dowry system in Nepal will rise day by day unless every mother-in-law thinks that she was a daughter-in-law at one time too. The dowry system will grow up in Nepal unless every mother feels that the treatments which she gives to her daughter-in-law can be received by her own daughter too.
It is the responsibility and duties of young generation to eradicate the problem of dowry. It is difficult to eradicate dowry system not only in Nepal but also other countries of the world.  There are ways, tips, methods and steps of removing and eradicating dowry system in our society. Some ways, tips, methods and steps of removing and eradicating dowry system problems are as follows:

1. First of all, discriminating between a girl and a boy should be stopped.
2. Public awareness should be raised through different media.
3. Girls should be sent to school equally as boys. Give girls a chance to education and be patient.
4. Women should be given equal parental property rights
5. They should be given education and sill development training.
6. Dowry system should be totally discouraged by the law.
7. Educated man has to show the courage to stop this evil system of our society.
8. Society anyhow has to consider this fact that dowry is not benefiting for us. Our society role is most vital.
9. Don’t force girls to marry in the early age.
10. Girls also must have to show the entire courage to reject the boys who are demanding dowry.
11. When the girls are focused on quality education, right training, got employment opportunities and economic independence, girls can raise hands against dowry.
12. All Girls of our society have to be confident that no girls are worse than boys.

But all this things can’t happen in a single day or overnight. It may take some time, right planning, and lots of wealth. One day society will be changed and step to eradicate the dowry.

Danish Alam