Dahej (DOWRY) An important consideration in the mate selection process is the giving of the dowry by the girl's parents to the boy's family. The custom of dowry has taken the form of a market transition in all classes and castes irrespective of the level of education". The dowry system was initiated with the intention of providing security for a girl in case of adversity and unexpected circumstances after marriage. The parents gave whatever they could to their daughter (consequently to the groom's family) for this purpose. By the beginning of the twenty-first century, however, the custom had deteriorated to a point whereby the prospective groom and his family had become very greedy. They made tremendous demands, which if not met after marriage result in dowry deaths—burning girls alive if the dowry is insufficient, so that the boy can remarry another girl for a higher or better dowry. The more educated a man is, the higher the family is in the caste and social hierarchy, the better his employment prospects, the higher is the expectation for dowry at the time of marriage. It is difficult for families with daughters who are highly educated to arrange marriages because the girls are required to have even more educated husbands. Dowry is actually prohibited since 1961. I am middle class person staying with my wife and daughters in Baroda. In India, demanding, giving, and taking dowry are all criminal offences under the Dowry Prohibition Act. Under Criminal law, cruelty (Section 498A of Indian Penal Code) in connection to demanding dowry by husband or his relatives, dowry death, and driving a woman to commit suicide are all criminal offences, which get a very high punishment for the offender. The purpose of law is to raise awareness and educate the public and to help individuals and groups who are working against dowry. For investigating dowry deaths, the police and the magistrate have special powers to ensure a speedy and just investigation. Non-government organizations that work with women have special privileges to complain to the police station, when they believe that a person is being harassed for dowry. In spite of various special laws to investigate dowry death and cruelty related to dowry issues (harassment), it obviously is not enough to put an end to dowry, and there is a need for us to recognize the harmful effects of dowry, and eradicating this evil practice for ever.

I am sharing this fact because it is eye opener for the Society where Dowry system is largely affecting middle and low class educated people who have daughters. I am working in Bank in Baroda. My elder daughter passed B.Com from M.S.University of Baroda & worked in Barbeque Nation at Baroda for 8 months. My younger daughter is doing 3rd year B.Sc. (HOME) at Maharaja Sayaji University at Baroda. In the month of March 2009, Mr. Vasantbhai Mehta, a Government employee from Bharuch came to my residence at Baroda for his son Mr. Krupal Mehta, who is working in Air Force at Pune, for marriage proposal for my elder daughter Krutika. Meeting took place and then both the parties decided for marriage. We told them that we are born and brought up in middle class family, so our money is only HARD EARNED money. We may not fulfill what you expect from us at the time of marriage. This fact we have narrated to them in advance. They are also from middle class family. They agreed in principal that they will not demand anything except what we do as per our Budget. I would like to add that Mr. Vasantbhai Mehta, father of Krupal told me that, "Kaushikbhai, for the marriage if you need our help then also I am ready to help you, because I will treat you as my brother”. Those were the wordings of Mr. Vasantbhai Mehta. Thanks to Mr. Vasantbhai Mehta – my daughter’s father in law, though, we have not taken any financial help from him. At present, I am writing this fact after my daughter Krutika is well settled in Pune with Mr. Krupal, who is drawing Rs.25,000/- salary per month with other perquisites. They are staying independently. Now I question everyone in India, is it possible? Such types of people are also there, who do not demand but ready to help girl's father for his son's marriage. If, we find persons like Mr.Vasantbhai in our Society then Dowry problem will vanish soon and every year thousands of girls’ death is due to DOWRY will eradicate completely. Krutika’s in-laws Mr. Vasantbhai Mehta told me that, “THEY WANT A DAUGHTER AND NOT A DAUGHTER IN LAW because they have only 2 sons. After reading my review, even if a single girl’s life is saved, then it will be a more than National Award for Mr.Vasantbhai Mehta.