Dowry problem linked to arranged marriages: Chidambaram

Dowry problems arise out of arranged marriages, Union home minister P Chidambaram said on Wednesday. He hoped that society would evolve fresh ideas on the institution of marriage to get rid of the dowry system.

“A majority of marriages are arranged. Though the failure rates of arranged and not-arranged marriages in India are the same, we accept arranged marriages. But dowry is a fact in arranged marriages,” Chidambaram said.

He was addressing a seminar on dowry, arranged by the Women and Child Development (WCD) ministry. Stressing that dowry was a concomitant part of arranged marriages, the minister said, “Unless you identify the problem clearly and then try to find an answer to it, this problem will continue for ages.’’ He called on educated people to take a lead in solving this problem. “Ultimately, it is the choice of the individual. The evil will die down if more and more people join the campaign against dowry,” he said.

Incidentally, the home ministry had last month issued directives to all state governments not to make immediate arrests under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 498A (cruelty for dowry), to prevent the misuse of this law. The WCD ministry has launched a unique campaign to change daughters’ perspective towards marriage and dowry.
The ministry plans to reach out to schools under this campaign to sensitise girls who are expected to sensitise their parents about the issue.