Hummingbird News Desk
KERALA, 22 JULY: The Kerala government will appoint Dowry Prohibition Officer in all 14 districts as part taking stringent measures to curb the menace. It has already amended its Dowry Prohibition rules for implementing its efforts in view of increasing complaints of dowry harassment in the state.
Beside this, students may have to sign “No Dowry Bond” before taking admission in the college.
State Health Minister Veena George said the post of dowry prohibition officers had already existed on a regional basis in three districts-Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode-and it has now been expanded to all districts.
The district women and child development officers would act as dowry prohibition officer in each district, she said.
As part of the initiatives, the Director of Women and Child Development has been appointed as the Chief Dowry Prohibition officer.
“The appointment of the dowry prohibition officers is part of the government’s efforts to crack down on dowry in view of increasing cases now-a-days,” Ms George said.
Noting that the first phase of the training of district officers has been completed, she said the government had already invited expression of interest from voluntary organisations for assisting women in complaints related to dowry.
Besides this, steps have been taken to set up district advisory boards and intensify awareness programmes, she explained.
Awareness classes for students on gender and rules for women are being conducted in association with colleges and National Service Schemes, the minister added.
Tags: #Kerala #FirstIndia #DowryProhibitionOfficers
