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DOWRY DEATHS: A TAINT ON INDIAN SOCIETY
One woman dies every 90 minutes due to dowry-related violence. The problem cuts deeper!
6/3/20262 min read
Dowry deaths remain a social crisis for India, a tragic taint on Indian society. With the recent tragic news taking the storm over media outlets and social media channels, it pushes us to rethink about women’s safety even within the space deemed as safe as home.
India records thousands of dowry deaths annually because of just one deeply entrenched practice of extorting money and wealth from the bride’s family. The National Crime Record Bureau’s (NCRB) Crime in India 2024 report revealed 4.4 lakhs cases registered under “cruelty by husband or relatives”, and 5,737 dowry deaths, with around 16 women dying every single day. This can be roughly translated as one woman dying every 90 minutes due to dowry violence. Uttar Pradesh, followed by Bihar records the highest number of cases. Legal provisions to curb this societal evil include the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961, which criminalises the act of giving, demanding and taking dowry; Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS); and the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005.
Despite stringent legal provisions, the statistics of violence are alarming and need scrutiny and action. Dowry deaths, stemming from a deeply rooted practice in a patriarchal society where women are still struggling to find safety, dignity, and equal treatment in economic and societal life, are deploringly tragic. The Supreme Court has given several directions in 2025, including the appointment of Dowry Prohibition officers (DPOs), periodic training of officials such as police and judicial officers, the expeditious disposal of pending cases, and grassroots awareness programmes.
The Underlying problem rooted in gender inequality, cultural norms and patriarchy remains at the core of this violence. Preventive strategies through structural empowerment and awareness, effective enforcement to close systematic gaps, and underreporting are crucial. However, recent studies have also noted that social media comedic skits often normalise dowry by using euphemisms such as “harmless gifts”. They promote and empower the criminal nature of this practice. India can take a step further by holding tech giants accountable, ensuring that review teams are in place to flag such normalisation on social media, including promoting positive advocacy, whilst reporting triggering content that promotes such a practice. The journey is long, but it is possible.