A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings to her husband in marriage.

Originally, the purpose of a dowry was to provide "seed money" or property for the establishment of a new household, to help a husband feed and protect his family, and to give the wife and children some support.

It is estimated that a dowry death occurs in India every 72 minutes.

The practice of dowry ,a nationwide problem. Now found in communities and castes in which it had never been the custom. Inherited from upper caste practices. In majority of cases, Laws failed to show any impact on the practice of dowry.

 In marriage the groom demanded that the brides father also provide for his daughters maintenance, since she was now a financial burden on him. And the system of dowry started. So, a girl became a potential financial drain on man.
As a matter of prestige too, more money and material goods asked in dowry. The girl was no longer desired.

Considering the evils of the dowry system, the dowry prohibition act was passed in 1961.

According to the act if a person gives or takes dowry or directly or indirectly demands for dowry after the marriage from his wife or her parents then the person is liable to get punished and imprisoned for six months and also pay a fine of Rs.5000, but which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees.

The world population has a sex ratio of 990 females per 1000 males
Sex ratio: Japan 1041 USA 1029 Indonesia 1004 Bangladesh 953

China 944
India 933 India has one of the lowest sex ratios in the world

WikiProject India Maps

The educated people should think and realize how unholy it is to demand a rich dowry for taking the hand of a bride.

They should know that it is immoral and sinful to demand dowry and the sake of holy marriage. While demanding dowry they should think of their unmarried sisters and future daughters so that they will refrain from this ugly demand.
They should realize that dowry has never changed the fate or financial position of anyone in this world. If they do not realize these simple truths, girls should organize themselves to such an extent that no girl will marry a man who demands a rich dowry for her hand.

Now, the Government has enacted a law to check the system of dowry in our country. Demand for dowry has become a cognizable offence. A groom demanding dowry can be criminally prosecuted. But it is not enough. A man demanding rich dowry should be debarred from holding a Government job, as in the case of a man having more than one wife.