QUESTIONNAIRE

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QUESTIONNAIRE

Sl. Answer
N. Questions/Propositions Yes No j Can't
I Say
A About The System Of Dowry
1 Is dowry system prevailing in the region of
Mithila?
2 Does every boy get dowry in his marriage?
3 Is dowry system good for the society?
4 Whether the arrangement of dowry is
mandatory for the marriage of a girl?
'

5 Whether cruelty is caused for dowry from the

side of groom?
6 Whether non-payment or inability to pay
dowry is detrimental to getting a suitable
match?
7 Whether an unsuitable bride gets a suitable
groom by means of dowry?
8 Do you agree that dowry system is because of
women's lower status in the society?
8 Why is it compulsory to give dowry?
1 It has a social sanction
2 To give and take dowry is a matter of pride
and symbol of status
--
3 Inter-caste marriage is restricted
4 Love marriage is not admired/ permitted
5 Number of suitable grooms are less
6 Girls are not self dependent
7 Girls are not provided share in their parental
property
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8 Girls have no sources of in-come

9 Girls are not well educated
10 General public don't know that giving and
taking dowry is illegal
11 Laxity on the part of police in implementation
of Dowry Prohibition Laws
12 Females are treated as lower in society and
they are not regarded equal to males
c Reasons of poor status of women in the region of Mithila
1 They are less educated
2 They are economically not independent but
dependent on the other members of family
3 They are biologically weak
4 They are traditionally treated as inferior
without any tangible cause
5 They are less aware of the changes taking
place around the globe
D How does the status of women can be improved
a Educational level of the women needs to be
improved
b Propriety rights in the ancestral property be
recognised
c Comprehensive campaign by the Government
is needed to alter the mind-set of the people
in the region towards the women
d Efforts to make the women independent and
self reliant be enhanced
E Bad effects of dowry on our society
1 It enhances female infanticide and foeticide
resulting lower sex-ratio and ill health
2 Girls are married in their early age
3 Does dowry result in delay of marriage and
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consequently lead female to go on immoral

path
4 Lower sex ratio may increase the system of
polyandry
F Measures required to avoid giving and taking dowry
1 By making women independent and self I
reliant by providing education and reservation
for job in local bodies and professional
courses I

2 Should male domination in the matter of

owning property be eliminated by legislation
3 Parents should take initiative to involve their
girl children in decision making in the family
and apprising them of their rights
4 A resistance to dowry by marrying girl be
given a positive sanction by the society
5 Superficial status acquired by the groom by
taking dowry be condemned by the society
6 Inter-caste/ love marriage should be viewed
leniently and allowed In certain
circumstances.
G Legislative Measures ; Dowry Prohibition Laws
1 Are you aware of Dowry prohibition Laws?
2 Are the Dowry Prohibition Laws sufficient to
I

combat the dowry problem

H About implementation of Dowry Prohibition Law
1 How far general public is responsible for the
poor implementation of the Dowry Prohibition
Laws
a Law is against the social current
b People lack awareness
c People lack education
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d People are poor

e People don't trust Court
f People don't trust police
2 Reasons for police being responsible for poor implementation of
the Dowry Prohibition Laws
a Inefficiency of police due to
(i) Less number of police personnel
(ii) Heavy work load on police
(iii) Poor salary of police personnel
(iv) Poor investigation technique and Poor
training of police personnel for implementing
the dowry prohibition laws
(v) Poor infrastructure of police for
implementing the dowry prohibition laws
b Hostility of Police
c Corrupt attitude of Police
d Idleness of Police
3 Contribution of judiciary in defeating the purpose of Dowry
Prohibition Laws
a Efficiency of court is affected by Heavy work
load, less number of judges and judicial staff
and poor infrastructure
b Long, tiresome and exhaustive procedure
c There is poor rate of conviction in dowry
related crimes
d Less salary/ fee, poor training and political
appointment of the prosecution advocates
results in poor rate of conviction defeating
purpose of dowry prohibition laws
e Long trial, lack of protection and motivation to
prosecution witnesses make them hostile and
to be won over defeating the purpose of
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dowry prohibition laws

4 Should the dowry related crime be tried by the
family court as appreciated by Joint
Committee?
5 Should specialist like socialist, psychologist
and social workers be employed for
considering particular problem before Family
Court?
6 Should Government with the help of NGO's,
media and Public Relation Department create
the wave of anti dowry awareness?