As human being, we often wondered that ‘wouldn’t it be awesome if we live in a society where husband wife live their married life peacefully and there is no quarrel among them. What if there is no dowry demand from groom’s family and consequently no dowry giving by the daughter’s family, then we all live in equitable society.
Recent event suggest, if we all take individual responsibility of not demanding dowry and not giving dowry, then it is possible that we will truly live in a society where parents will happily give their daughter’s hand to groom without thinking about their empty pockets or financial burden and consequently, there will be gender equality, where a girl child birth will be celebrated.
Recently, In a step towards stricter implementation of the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, the government has issued a circular directing all male government employees to furnish a declaration to their heads of departments within one month of their marriage that they have not taken any dowry. In the circular, the State Women and Child Development Director, who is also the Chief Dowry Prohibition Officer as per the Kerala Dowry Prohibition (Amendment) Rules, 2021, has asked the heads of departments to obtain and maintain declarations from government employees that they have not asked for, taken, or exhorted the receipt of dowry.
The declaration should be signed by the wife, father, and father-in-law of male government employees, says the circular. Besides this, the government has also decided to observe November 26 of every year as ‘Dowry Prohibition Day’ in the State. All students in high schools and colleges and other educational institutions in the State should take a pledge not to give or take dowry in a general assembly at the institution on Dowry Prohibition Day. (https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/govt-staff-in-kerala-to-give-no-dowry-declaration-after-marriage/article35509740.ece )
This is a positive approach by the Kerala government which must be appreciated by everyone in the country and there must not be any political debate on this. Here’s wishing state governments and central government will follow in the footsteps of the Kerala government and will implement similar measures not just among government employee but also among every private individual.
Space Curiouser 
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