Agartala, Dec. 8: The Tripura government will implement Dowry Prohibition Rules, 2003 by appointing officers in each district and one chief dowry prohibition officer here. This will be supplemented by the formation of district-level advisory committees for monitoring marriages. The ruling Left Front observed an Anti-Dowry Week from November 28 to December 2 to mobilise public opinion against the custom in the wake a spurt in the incidents of crimes against women.
Between 1994 and 2002, 4,456 cases of crimes against women were registered with the police and state women?s commission. This included 256 dowry-related deaths and 721 cases of domestic atrocities caused by dowry disputes.
Official sources said the central Dowry Prevention Act 1961, which empowered policemen to register suo moto cases for giving and taking dowry, had never been properly enforced in Tripura. Thus, the state government has framed Dowry Prohibition Rules, 2003. Sources in the state social welfare department said a workshop would soon be held.
Police officers, anti-dowry officers, lawyers and employees and officials of the social welfare department for enforcement of the anti-dowry rules would participate in the workshop.
Sources said according to the rules, parties finalising a marriage will have to submit all details, including commodities and goods to be given to the bridegroom, clearly referring to the sources of income of the donors.