The Continuing Crisis of Dowry Deaths in India

Dowry death refers to the unfortunate event of death of women who are tortured or driven to suicide because of arguments over unnecessary demands of dowry, a system which is rooted deeply in the society of India. These incidents often involve physical and mental abuse of the victim leading to severe psychological trauma. Even the government and various organizations aim and make efforts to combat dowry-related violence but many challenges negate these actions. Despite the enactment of various laws with the aim to curb this issue, yet this vile practice remains a pervasive issue and cases of horrendous deaths of women can be heard in everyday news. This article pertains to explore the concurrent issue of the dowry deaths in India. The rising cases of dowry deaths in India generate a need to discuss this issue. By examining the history of dowry, the statistics related to dowry deaths as well as the legislation to combat this practice, the paper also discusses the ground level challenges faced by the institutions. The paper also suggests probable reforms which may bring advancement towards the position of women in our society.