Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has appealed to the masses to boycott the weddings of those taking dowry. The move is part of the state government’s declaration to stamp out the evil of dowry and ensure dowry-less marriages based on mutual consent.
“If you get any invitations for attending wedding, first try to find out if they have taken dowry or not. Boycott it if they have taken. That will bring massive change in the society,” Kumar told a function in Patna on Friday evening.
Dowry claims thousands of lives every year which has raised the concern of the state government. According to an official report, a total of 987 women were killed for dowry last year. In 2015, the total number of dowry deaths had been recorded at 1,154.
The state government has decided to launch a massive campaign against the dowry system on the lines of its offensive against liquor. The decision was taken at a meeting of the social welfare department held earlier this week.
“Dowry is a major social issue today as even girls are now seeking a ban. Now, the time has come to launch an aggressive campaign against it too,” said Kumar.
The chief minister asked the social welfare department to also involve the health, education and rural development departments in its campaign.
The development followed after a group of women met the chief minister during his weekly public interaction programme on Monday and suggested a crackdown on dowry.
One of the women even suggested the chief minister enact a law banning marriage of girls until they have finished their education.
