Kerala yet to address systemic issues such as dowry harassment

90% of cases settled without any official complaint

With its highest sex ratio in the country and progressive socio-cultural profile, Kerala may seem like a haven of emancipated women. But if the number of cases coming under Section 498A of the Indian Penal Code is anything to go by, a woman’s post-marital status in the State still depends on dowry and in some cases it sets her on a path of eternal distress or even self-destruction. Despite the ardent outrage over dowry deaths, the practice still continues undeterred, cutting across caste and class divides. As per reports, Kerala records thousands of such cases every year but very few reach courts. “Very often cases of marital discord and domestic violence spring from dowry-related issues. Though families try to avoid straightforward demands, there will be customary implications and negotiations. In some cases, there will not be any physical violence but women will be emotionally abused and treated as second-rate individuals. But even if there is evident physical violence, 90% of such cases will be settled without any official complaint or record,” says a police official.