To curb India’s dowry problem, colleges affiliated with Calicut University have now made it mandatory to sign a declaration form promising to not accept, demand or give dowry when they get married.
This decision was taken based on the recommendation of governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who is also the chancellor of the state universities. Khan, perturbed over India’s dowry system—and especially following the dowry death of a girl in the Kollam district in Kerala recently—recommended that students should sign a bond to never be a part of this criminal offence.
A circular issued by the Assistant Registrar, University of Calicut, on September 15 reads, “In the context of frequent reporting of dowry deaths related to domestic violence, the Chancellor has proposed to obtain a declaration from all the stakeholders of the Universities of not demanding or accepting dowry, directly or indirectly abetting the giving or taking of dowry. Therefore, the Vice-Chancellor has ordered to obtain a declaration in the enclosed proforma from the students and parents, at the time of admission.”
“Hence it is strictly directed to obtain a declaration of not demanding or accepting dowry, directly or indirectly abetting the giving or taking of dowry in the proforma attached, from each student and parent at the time of admission,” it further adds.
Even students who have already enrolled for the new batch will have to sign the declaration form. This move aims to also increase awareness about this social evil by making every student vow to not be a part of it.