New Delhi, Dec 24: On an average one Indian woman commits suicide every four hours over a dowry dispute, as per official data, despite a series of laws to empower them.
According to data complied by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a total of 2,276 female suicides due to dowry disputes were reported in 2006 that is six a day on an average, while the figure was 2,305 in 2005. In 2004, at least 2,585 such cases were registered across the country.
Statistics suggest that Madhya Pradesh topped the list for the fourth time with 585 cases, accounting for one-fourth of the total number of such suicides last year in the country. West Bengal was second with 445 cases and Uttar Pradesh third with 314 cases. The national capital was seventh with 69 cases.
Police officials in the capital told reporters that suicide by hanging was the most common means adopted to end life followed by self-immolation in such cases.
The NCRB is a central body assigned to compile crime figures in the country. Its figures also state that one case is registered almost every hour under Dowry Death, which includes suicides as well as murders.
'A total of 7,618 cases were registered under Dowry Death in 2006, while 6,787 cases were registered in 2005. In 2004, at least 7,026 such cases were recorded,' a police official said.
Dowry is a social evil but continues to be a common practice in almost every part of India. Women at the time of marriage are expected to bring with them jewellery, cash and even consumer durables are part of dowry to the in-laws and they are subsequently ill-treated, often violently, if they fail to do so.
Abetting suicide is punishable by imprisonment up to 10 years and a fine.
Anti-dowry laws in India were enacted in 1961 but the laws themselves have done nothing to halt dowry transactions. Many of the victims are burnt to death - they are doused in kerosene and set fire to. Routinely the in-laws claim that the death happened simply due to an accident.
When evidence of foul play is too obvious to ignore, the story changes to suicide - the wife, it is said, could not adjust to new family life and subsequently killed herself.
Maikrao H. Gavit, state minister in the ministry of home affairs, had recently informed the Rajya Sabha that his ministry from time-to-time has been issuing advisories to all the states and union territories to give more focused attention to prevention, detection, registration, investigation and prosecution in such cases.
'In the advisory dated Oct 27, 2004 they were requested to take action on the recommendations of the National Commission for Women regarding the Dowry Prohibition Act and its implementation,' Gavit said.
Bureau Report