Within days of staging a day-long fast against dowry system, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan asked the universities in the State to launch a massive anti-dowry campaign from educational institutions itself.
Governor Khan, who had convened a meeting of the vice-chancellors of universities in the State at Ernakulam on Friday, asked them to get undertakings from students and their parents at the time of admission to under graduate courses that they would not seek or give dowry. “The students and their parents should a bond at the time of admission itself that they would not seek or give dowry. The Universities should also get bonds/affidavits signed from employees at the time of their appointment itself that they would not seek dowry,” said the Governor after the meeting.
Universities in the State should have indoctrination programmes against dowry, the worst social evil. Eradication of dowry is not a programme meant for the welfare of women. “It is the need of all people, irrespective of caste, creed and gender,” said the Governor whose fight against dowry is being described as historical. Speaking in chaste Malayalam, the Governor told the youth and their parents: “Namukku Sthreedhanam Venda” (Malayalam for we don’t want dowry system).
Governor Khan pointed out that women in Kerala play major role in the economic and social spheres of the State. “They should get more respect and recognition. It is the need of the Kerala society to show respect to women,” said the Governor who became the first Constitutional figure to stage a fast for a social cause. The State has seen a number of deaths, inclusing murders and suicides of women as a fall out of demand for dowry.