Shock finding spurs Kudumbashree into mass campaign against dowry

The survey held among 44653 persons last week also saw 439 participants opening up on the domestic violence they have endured

Despite the intense debate surrounding dowry and the successive victims it allegedly claimed in recent times, a survey found 896 women in the district to be ignorant about the fact that dowry remains prohibited by law in this country. The shock finding during the week-long survey by Snehitha, its gender helpdesk and local gender resource centres, seems to have spurred the district Kudumbashree Mission into a mass awareness campaign not just against dowry but domestic violence in general. Among other things they will be educated about the prevalence of the Dowry Prohibition Act. "A poster designing contest, 'Dowry - a social evil' is being held to help the new generation take a firm stance against the malaise. Though the ignorance about dowry was aired by 896 individuals, we will reach out to all the respective neighbourhood groups (NHGs) in their entirety and mount an awareness campaign against dowry both through our online platforms and printed materials," said Shine T. Money, district programme manager (gender), Kudumbashree.