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Dowry Prohibition

The Directorate of WCD acts as the nodal implementing organisation for all the programmes of the State Government as well as programmes of Central Government.

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The Dowry system in India refers to the durable goods, cash, and real or movable property that the bride's family gives to the bridegroom, his parents, or his relatives as a condition of the marriage. ‘Dowry’ means any property or valuable security given or agreed to be given either directly or indirectly by one party to a marriage to the other party to the marriage; or by the parents of either party to a marriage or by any other person, to either party to the marriage or to any other person; at or before or any time after the marriage in connection with the marriage of said parties but does not include dower or mahr in the case of persons to whom the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) applies. In July 2004, the State Government amended the Kerala Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 by superseding the Kerala Dowry Prohibition Rules 1992. The amended Act incorporated same of the longstanding demands of the National Women’s Commission.

Accordingly, three Regional (Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi & Kozhikode) Dowry Prohibition Officers (RDPOs) were posted with independent charge. 

The Director of Social Justice Department is the Chief Dowry Prohibition Officer to whom the RDPOs report.

Duties and Responsibilities of Regional Dowry Prohibition Officers prescribed under the Act are as follows:

  • To create awareness about the ill effects of dowries among the public through camps organised by the Information and Broad Casting Department, Local Self Government Institutions and other medias.

  • To conduct supervision checks and inquiries to ascertain whether there has been any violation of the provisions of the Act or Rules.

  • To maintains registers to record all complaints, inquiries and their results along with other relevant information.

  • To accept complaints for any offence under the Act from the party of persons aggrieved or any other person or organisations.

  • To act as Member Secretary of the Advisory Board.                 


Addresses of Dowry Prohibition Officers

1. Chief Dowry Prohibition Officer

    Director,

    Social Justice Department

    Thiruvananthapuram

2. Zonal Dowry Prohibition Officer

    Poojappura,Thiruvananthapuram

    Ph. No. 0471- 2342896

3. Zonal Dowry Prohibition Officer

    Near High Court, Kochi

    Ph.  No. 0484-2394271

4. Zonal Dowry Prohibition Officer

    Civil Station, Kozhikode

    Ph. No. 0495-2371792


Beneficiaries

Women

Documents

Act THE DOWRY PROHIBITION ACT, 1961
Rules Kerala Dowry Prohibition Rules, 2004