SURVEY ON DOWRY SYSTEM

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SRM UNIVERSITY
KATTANKULATHUR
A REPORT
ON
Survey of Dowry system in India
SUBMITTED IN THE PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER
OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
SUBMITTED BY:-
HARSHAD.H
MBA-IV SEMESTER
REGISTER NO:-RA1552001010079

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I have taken efforts in this project. However, it would not have been possible without the kind
support and help of many individuals and social media sites. I would like to extend my sincere
thanks to all of them.
I would like to express my gratitude towards my riends & prf: vijaykumar faculty of srm
university for their kind co-operation and encouragement which helped me in completion of
this project.
I would like to express my special gratitude and thanks to socialmedia and whtsapp groups for
giving me such attention and time.
My thanks and appreciations also go to my colleague in developing the project and people who
have willingly helped me out with their abilities.
HARSHAD.H
(MBA IV SEM)

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The practice of giving a dowry or a gift to a woman at marriage is said to have its
origins in the system of "streedhan" (women's share of parental wealth given to her at the
time of her marriage).As a woman had no right to inherit a share of the ancestral property
streedhan was seen as a way by which the family ensured that she had access to some of its
wealth. There is no clear proof as to when this practice was first started in India. What began
as gifts of land to a woman as her inheritance in an essentially agricultural economy today
has degenerated into gifts of gold, clothes, consumer durables and large sums of cash, which
has sometimes entailed the impoverishment and heavy indebtedness of poor families. The
dowry is often used by the receiving families for business purposes, family member's
education, or the dowry to be given for the husband's sister. The transaction of dowry often
does not end with the actual wedding ceremony as the family is expected to continue to give
gifts.
All these things are happening simply because of the dowry system which is a stigma
on the fair name of the Indian society and a curse for women. The parents of the girls have to
provide a substantial amount of money to the parents of marriage talks. If they do not accede
to their demands, the marriage talk receives a great setback. And if they agree under the force
of circumstances and fail to pay it, their daughter is taunted, humiliated and subjected to cruel
treatment. As a result, she begins to fee that her life is worthless, there is no meaning in living
alive and she feels obliged to commit suicide. So, law alone cannot help much in this respect.
Social efforts are needed to end this evil young men should pledge that they would not accept
my dowry. Anyone demanding dowry should be put to shame. He should be socially
boycotted.

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CONTENTS
Chapter
No.
Particulars Page No.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 2
LIST OF TABLES 4
LIST OF FIGURES 5
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7
1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Statement of the Problem
1.2 Literature Review
1.3 Need and Significance of the Study
1.4 Main Objectives of the study
1.5 Scope of the study
1.6 Methodology of Research
1.7 Data source
1.8 Limitations of the study
1.9 Chaptering of the Project
8
2 DOWRY 11
3 DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
 Percentage analysis
15
4 FINDINGS,,SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 16
5 CONCLUSION,BIBLIOGRAPHY 18
6 QUESTIONNAIRE 20

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure No. Figure Name Page
No.
4.1 28
4.2 29
4.3 30
4.4 31

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CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Dowry system is as old as man is. The dowry system is a social evil. It is prevalent in all parts
of India and almost in all the countries of the world. In India many of the traditional customs
have been given up, but the custom of dowry has not only continued, but flourished over the
years. Even in the old age the dowry system was in vogue and dowry was used as means for
striking a good match. In due course dowry became an integral part of the marriage
institution and is generally accepted by the society as necessarily evil.
The custom of dowry has become widespread. Even before the marriage, the amount
to be given as dowry is discussed and settled with the change of time. The contents of dowry
have undergone a great change. The boy's parents openly demand money and other items
which include car, scooter, fridge, color T.V. etc.
Hardly is there a day when one does not read of dowry deaths in the national daily
newspapers. Brides bringing less than expected dowry are ill treated by their in-laws and
other relatives. Many of them cannot bear it any more and commit suicide. Those who do not
have enough courage to do so, are burnt alive by their husbands and the in-laws.
Now and then voices have been raised against this evil custom. Even the social
reformers like Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Dayanand tried their best to create a social
consciousness against this practice. Also, the Dowry Prohibition Act was passed in 1961, but
it has not made any difference. Laws never succeed in eradicating social evils. Social
awakening is needed to achieve such goals.
Now-a-days several women's organizations have come into being in order to check this evil.
Even our young boys and girls are taking oath not to follow this evil customs. State
governments have also come forward with better legislation. Now taking and giving dowry is
made a organizable offence. Much has been done, but much more needs to be done.
Though there is marked effect of this movement still people have not given it up totally. They
have started secret deals. Total eradication of dowry system is possible only when the
mentality of the people changes. Young boys and girls should not come under the pressure of
parents. Educational institutions should canvass against the dowry system. Even children
should be made to read stories dealing with ill-effects of dowry. People should be told how
this system has weakened our nation. It should be installed in the minds of young men and
women that to give and to take dowry is a sin. Hence, the evil can be curbed, and eliminated
only through social awakening and reform. But in the meantime, the law and the judicial
system must provide solace and all possible help to those who wish to resist the pernicious
manifestations of the dowry system.

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Dowry system has given rise to many socio-economic problems with very serious
consequences. Numerous incidents of bride burning, harassment and physical torture of newly-wed
women and various kinds of pressure tactics being adopted by the husbands/in-laws pressurizing for
more dowry have compelled the social reformers and the intelligentsia to give serious thoughts to
various aspects associated with the institution of dowry . Govt. of India enacted “Dowry Prohibition
Act” in 1961, which was further amended in 1985 to control this menace. In spite of this Act,the
“give and take” phenomenon of dowry is practiced widely throughout India, irrespective of caste and
class. In many cases,when dowry amount is not considered sufficient, the bride is often harassed,
abused and tortured (Singh, 2005). Dowry related violence and bride burning ( dowry-death) are only
peculiar to our country and beside husband, his kin also join together in persecuting the bride as the
dowry and related customs provide a good excuse to them for humiliating, insulting and even beating
up of woman . The bride is helpless in her new home and physically so powerless that she cannot
retaliate against the coercive tactics or actions of other; not many women have the guts to divorce
their husbands on the ground of frequent mental or physical torture since they have nothing to fall
back upon in a traditionally and poorly developed country like India
1.1 Statement of the Problem
DOWRY has been very much in prominence in the recent past. It has shocked the sensibility for the
general public. In most of the cases,bride-burning seems to be associated with dowry demands where
the victim is often a young and recently married woman. Many such cases go unreported but those
that are reported are enough to unnerve all right thinking members of the society. The harassment and
violence against the bride revolves around the demand for more and dowry which often culminates in
the death of the bride.
One of the major problem I would like to throw light on is the prevailing dowry system in our
society or rather the country as a whole. Needless to say, this certain predicament is engulfing a
lot of women and their families in this current hour. There are judiciary takes on it but then why
does it still sustain?
Reports say, one woman dies every hour in India succumbing to dowry related crimes. The
National Crime Records Bureau says 24800 women were killed across India last 3 year owing to
disputes over dowry payments given by the bride’s family to the groom and his family at the time
of marriage. This age-old social custom has caused so much decay that it doesn’t even bother the
prohibition of it by the Indian law.
1.2 Literature Review
Nature created woman different from men with a definite purpose. Balance is stillness and
stagnation; imbalance is motion and progress. Nature designed life and action by means of
the imbalance brought about in the traits of men and women. In the process, women find
themselves at the receiving end. They ended up as the weaker half of society by their very
nature and are naturally handicapped in a world of men, by men, for men. In theory they are

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respectable but in practice they are the subjects of cruelty, ill-treatment, and all sorts of
misbehavior of males. The vulnerability of 8the women as a class has nothing to do with her
economic independence. The women have been a victim irrespective of her economic
background10. The present study focuses about the problem of Dowry Violence. So keeping
this in view the researcher had attempted to review the literature related with the practice of
dowry in the society and related with the dowry cases. Dowry and women against women-
though, assumed importance as indicators of women‘s status-could generate few studies,
particularly, in the Metropolitan areas.
1.3 Need and Significance of the Study
Dowry related violence is now an every day event in our country. The law against
dowry is stringent enough to act as a deterrent. But the reality of the wretched lives of young
women, particularly among the less educated sections of society, is that they still have to justify
their presence in the husband’s family by bringing in money and other valuables from their
parents’ home.
So it’s the right time to take proper steps against Dowry. If failed to make proper solutions of
the problems, then our next generation has to face more problems than we are having right
now.
1.4 Objectives of the Study
 To identify the causes and effects of dowry system.
 To assess the Domestic violence against women from dowry sytem.
 To analyse the people perception about the dowry system.
 To find preventive meashures to control dowry system.
 To study and analyze how the concept of dowry changed with the passage of time. 
 To find out the causes for the acceptance of such a cruelpractice by the society

1.5 Scope of the Study
 This study will help to explore the situation of dowry system and domestic violence
against women.
 This study will help to create awareness about dowry sytem and realated isuues.
-The focus of the present study is on the Socio-Economic, Cultural and religious aspects which effect
or influence on the women’s rights and the reasons of causing various problems for women victims of
Dowry .For the better understanding of the present study, it would be necessary to grasp the
information regarding the offences related with dowry imposing major obstacles to lead a healthy
family life in the familial atmosphere. The rising incidences of crimes and violence’s against women
are compounded by the massive challenges of caste,ethnic, conflict, religious and revivalist forces.

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Because of illiteracy and poor out-reach of legal services; women are more often than not ignorant
about their rights.
1.6 Methodology of Research
Research methodology is essentially a systematic enquiry seeking facts.It comprises defining
and re-defining problems, collecting, organising and evaluating data, making
reccommendations and concludes it.In the study the researcher studies various steps that are
generally adopted in methodology,the research problem along with the logic behind them.It
may be understood as a science of studying how research is done scientifically.
a. Research design
Research design is a plan,structure and strategy of investigation so as to obtain
answers to research question or it is the arrangement of conditions for
collection and analysis of data in a manner that aims to combine relevance to
the research purpose with economy in procedure.It is a guideline for a
researcher to enable him to keep trade of his action and determine whether he
is going in the right direction to achieve his goal.The research adopted in this
study is descriptive research.
b. Research approach
The research approach used for the study is survey method.
c. Research instrument
The researcher used a structured questionnaire for this study.
d. Research period
The time period allowed for the research was teo weeks.

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1.7 Data Source
Data is collected mainly from primary and secondary data.
Primary Data
Primary data are those data collected by the investigator himself for the first time.In this
study it is collected by interview conducted by the researcher using structured questionnaire.
Each sample unit taken for this study from different people from differnet districts. The
sample size used for this study is 100. A sampling procedure refers to the technique or the
procedure the researcher would adopt in selecting items for sample.The sampling procedure
used for this study is convenience sampling procedure.It is the least expensive and least time
consuming of all sampling techniques.
Secondary Data
The secondary data means data that are already available. Secondary data were collected
from company records,socialmedia,books,journals and from related articles.
1.8 Limitations of the Study
There is some sampling error due to the convenience sampling procedure; the time period for
the project work was limited to collect more details.
Some of the respondents were not willing to be very open,
This study has been limited within the social medias.

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CHAPTER -2
Meaning :
According to Wikipedia, “Dowry” in the sense of the expression contemplated through the
Dowry Prohibition Act is a demand for property of valuable security having an inextricable
nexus with the marriage, i.e., it is a consideration from the side of the bride’s parents or
relatives to the groom or his parents and/or guardian for the agreement to marry the bride-to-
be.
According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, dowry is the money or property that a wife or
wife’s family gives to her husband when the wife and husband marry in some cultures.
Similarly, the oxford dictionary defines it as the amount of property or money brought by a
bride to her husband on their marriage.
The word dowry owes its origin to Anglo-Norman French word, dowarie, and has continued
to exist for long in the society. The practise, which once was a gift exchanging ceremony, has
transformed into a dilapidated social evil, striking the very building blocks of the relation to
shatters. The groom’s family seemingly go reluctant to part with the dowry and its the bride’s
family which faces the brunt.
The ancient India cannot be accounted for the downfall of status of women in the society and
the surge of the dowry system. According to several studies, dowry wasn’t the primary
requisite to initiate the selection of the bride. Rather, her personal characteristics, and eticates
as a human defined her stance for the perfect partner to the groom.
According to Al-Biruni, dowry system wasn’t practised in ancient India as early as 1035 AD.
Marriage was not a liability, rather, it was the event of peace and enjoyment. The male would
gift a present to the girl and henceforth held no right to ask for it back again. Rather, the girl
held the discretion in the process and could return the gift if she was not ready to marry the
entity.
Causes of Dowry System
The causes of dowry system is explained below:
Greed-Expectation: When the marriage ceremony talks are initiated, a major sector of the
society holds the thought that it is the event for extortion from the bride’s family. Several
reasons are cited including the dowry is being demanded to compensate the costs of the
groom’s education and liability. Well, the fact that the girl is also a responsibility for the
family, not a liability, is ignored widely. The primary reason behind such desperate measures
can be justified through the greed factor. Owing to expectations of material benefits from the
bride’s family, dowry is demanded for, and at times, when the demands are not met, either
the marriage is called off, or the bride is exploited leading to domestic violence.

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Social Status: The ancient India was quite liberal in the event of gift exchange during
marriage. All of it would rest upon the financial status of the families. However, at present,
the dowry amount and in-kind gift exchange has led to depletion in status of women in the
society, and led to depiction of social stance through the networth exchanged. The financial
status of the bride’s family is of little or no significance to the groom’s family leading to
prospective dowry extortion in a marriage. Yet again, the bride’s family try to pay it out
owing to the fact that losing a marriage proposal would deteriorate their status in the society.
Illiteracy: With a literacy rate of 74.04% in the country, it is quite valid to consider it the
primary cause for different social evils. Being from the segment that is not knowledgeable
about the laws and legislation, they face several atrocities owing to dowry exchange
practices. They are left with little or no choices and have to meet the demands of the groom’s
family, which when not met, leads to exploitation of the women.
Status of Women: It is quite obvious that women’s status in the society is not an equal one.
The plight doesn’t end here. Rather, the society owes its infrastructure buildup to the
effective contribution of both genders alike. However, it is significantly ignored and the
ultimate sufferers are the women in such setup. The dowry system is the brainchild of such
mindset and is the primary reason behind the plight of women in the nation.
Lack of Willingness to adhere to laws: The Government of our nation has drafted several
legislation to counteract the dowry system. However, after the decades of drafting, these laws
are still insignificant and this social evil still resides in our society. Seemingly, the primary
reason behind the failure is lack of mass participation. People pay no heed to such laws and
make sure to exploit the dowry system to gain material benefits under the veil of a marriage
proposal. Hence, the demands are made, and owing to ignorance of anti-dowry laws, the
bride’s family suffer at the hands of the groom and his family.
Effects of Dowry System
The effects/ impact of dowry system is discussed below:
Initiates gender imbalance: When we speak of gender inequality in the nation, dowry
system can be considered the catalyst for this issue. According to the social infrastructure of
the nation, it is a common perception that a woman is a liability and is to be married off
someday, with a dowry debt at disposal. Well, for the masses, the birth of a girl is an
inception to long-term plans to pay off the dowry along with the child.
Seemingly, this saving venture hampers the future of the girl and restricts her of equal
opportunities for the mail child. The very future planning for a better marriage proposal ruins
the prospects of a merrier life for the child. Well, dowry system can be accounted for
atrocities on the masses. The plight of the girl child is initiated with her birth due to this
particular infrastructure and continues to hamper her peace of mind and tranquility.
According to the latest 2011 census stats, the number of females per 1000 males stands at a
meager count of 943. Hence, this impacts the building blocks of the society and hampers the
growth of the nation.

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Social Effects: Society owes its origins to masses and when we speak of the constituent evils
of the segment in our subcontinent, dowry system is one of the most leveraged one. Being
widely practiced across the nation, every other family faces the brunt of it. If a demand is not
met by the bride’s family, she suffers at the hands of her groom’s family leading to social
imbalance and emotional breakdown. Seventy % of our population resides in the villages and
this practice still holds its stance midst the economy and the society as a whole. The society
seemingly judges the worth of a person on the basis of dowry accepted or received and this
framework can be attributed to the detrimental status of woman in the society.
Decrements status of women: When a girl is born, for particular individuals, the societal
framework is dismayed. She is no longer a happiness and her birth is no more an occasion.
She is deprived of basic rights to education, freedom and speech. However, owing to the
basic structure, and the dowry ideology, her ordeal doesn’t end with marriage. For a female
individual, with little or no self economic support, she exists at the assistance of her groom.
Hence, when his demands aren’t met, it leads to the breakdown of the empathetic relation
between the two entities leading to disparity. After a period, this ordeal doesn’t come to
conclusion, rather, it leads to domestic violence and poses a serious threat to the future of the
family. The girl loses on her freedom once she is married and it yet again, comes at the cost
of a dowry debt.
Promotes domestic violence and crime: Dowry system initiates the act of violence in the
society. When demands are not met by the bride’s family, the atrocities elevate
proportionately. At times, extreme steps are undertaken to shell out financial grants or
material benefits from the bride’s family. Well, yet again these steps can be attributed to the
much debated domestic violence. The crimes against women take a surge owing to this
structure of extortion.
Economic effects: Economy is not just the financial stockpile of the nation. Rather, it is a
deep-vested, mass effort to bring the platter for every individual. Dowry system, though it
seems a minor social evil can affect the nation and it’s individuals alike. Owing to this setup,
women aren’t granted equal rights and opportunities, leading to loss of economic workforce
from the segment. Women are active participants in the development of the nation, and if
their rights are hampered at the domestic level, it affects our economic build-up significantly.
We lose the consistent workforce at the hands of a social evil and hamper the growth of our
own home and the society.
Deteriorating financial status of bride’s family: Dowry doesn’t affect the bride alone.
Rather, its ordeal extends to bride’s parents and they have to bear the financial demands of
their counterparts to ensure well-being of their child. With regular demands from the groom’s
family, reports of suicides are yet again common in the country. Needless to say, this social
evil should necessarily be eradicated for the society and the nation.
Loss of self-esteemamong the women: The demands being met for the welfare of the bride
comes at a cost. Out of concern for her parents, she loses on self-esteem by believing she is a
burden on her family. It costs her peace of mind, and her right to a better life. Dowry system
has imposed an invisible chain upon the freedom and self-respect of women and continues to
haunt them since time eternal. Observing the problem closely, the greed of an individual ruins
the peace of a beautiful brain.

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Laws Against Dowry System in India.
The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961: The Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 was one of the most
significant attempt for the uplift of women’s status in the society and the abatement of dowry
system. This legislation marked the inception of an evolution leading to development of a
legal infrastructure which effectively monitored the exchange and facilitation of exchange of
dowry. It imposes a penalty in section 3 in case of exchange or demand for dowry. The
minimum term for the lay-off was 5 years and a minimum fine of INR 15,000 or the amount
of dowry, depending upon whichever is higher. In case a demand for dowry was made, it was
equally punishable in the legislation. Well, if a direct or indirect demand was made, it would
invoke a prison term of 6 months at the threshold with a fine of INR 10,000.
Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005: Women are one of the most
significant assets of the society and are active contributors in an all round development of the
nation. However, owing to the male dominated setup in our society, they suffer both
physically and mentally. Well, their ordeal is not limited to the society as a whole. Rather,
several cases reveal that domestic violence is still a significant deterrent against the uplift of
the woman’s status in the society.
To counteract the abuse women face at their own abode, the Protection of Women from
Domestic Violence Act, 2005 was passed. It facilitated a civil law solution to protect a
woman from domestic violence in India. The definition and the segments included in the
legislation are diversified and include all forms of abuse, namely, physical ,emotional,
economic, sexual or verbal aggression.
3. DATA ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

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4. FINDINGS
Actually there are many reasons for the dowry system. Now the most important can be
considered as the following:
 The poverty in India.
 The low status of woman in past.
 The orthodox mentality of the people in past
 Love of Money.
 Lavish Marriages.
 Illiteracy.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
 It is our moral duty, social obligation and legal right to fight against the dowry
system. The evils of dowry system must be removed at any cost.
 At public pressure the Government has enacted certain anti- dowry laws but these
have not produced the desired results.

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 The effort of the people in society need to act rationally, if they want this evil is to be
removed.
 The lofty expenditure of the marriage ceremony must be cut down.
 Women must be trained since girlhood that their life is not hopeless without marriage.
 They should be encouraged to have higher education.
 Their age of marriage should be raised.
 They should be encouraged to enter into various fields of paid jobs, as their higher
economic status also discourages demands for dowry.
 The practice of mass marriage should be encouraged for the sake of economy.
Conclusion:
Now, the Government has enacted a law to check the system of dowry in our country. Demand for
dowry has become a cognizable offence. A groom demanding dowry can be criminally prosecuted.
But it is not enough. A man demanding rich dowry should be debarred from holding a Government
job, as in the case of a man having more than one wife.
 Men should not think that the dowry as the easiest way to get rich, to get property.
 We are equal in all ways and in all means. For any home, both Man and Woman are equally
important.
 Man should invite wife into his life with whole heart,love and care but not about the money
or property tag from her.
 If men decide not to take dowry then it will be big support to the women and also helps to
raise their voice, can fight for equality.
 Above all, the youth must be given freedom to choose their life partners.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
 Johnson, P.S.and Johnson, J.A.(2001) “ The oppression of women in India”.Violence
Against Women, Vol.7 No.9, 1051-1068).
 Anwar Yagin, Protection of Women under the Law, Deep and Deep Publications,
New Delhi, 1982, p 170
 Dr.R. Revathi Law Relating to Domestic Violence. Asia Law Book House.
 Google and wikpedia,

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Survey on Dowry system in India
I am a student ofSRM University and this questionnaire is part of my final year project. The project is
Survey on Dowry System in India.The data collected from this questionnaire will form an integral part of my
research.
All of the information you give me will be treated as confidential and it will not be possible for anyone to
identify the information you give me when I publish my findings. I would also like to thank you for your time
and consideration.
Name
Gender
 Male
 Female
Marital Status
 Single
 Married
1.What age group are you?
 18-25
 26-35
 36-50
 50 and above
2.Is Dowry system a serious issue or not?
 Yes
 No
3.Do you think population, illiteracyand poverty are the main causes of
Dowry system?
 Yes
 No

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4.Are you in favour of taking and giving Dowry?
 Yes
 No
5.Do you think it is because of Dowry parents don't give birth to girl
child?
 Yes
 No
6.Is Dowry system an obstacle in higher education of girls?
 Yes
 No
7.Should the goverment make existing laws stronger and take strict actions
against Dowry system?
 Yes
 No
8. Will you insist on 'No Dowry' in your marriage?
 Yes
 No
 May Be
9.Would you like to suggest any reforms in Dowry system?