For the implementation of the ‘Dowry Prohibition Act 1951’ and ‘Chhattisgarh Dowry Prohibition Act 2004,’ the Woman and Child Development Department has declared all Child Development Project officers, including district officers of the Department in the nine new districts, as ‘Dowry Prohibition Officers (DPO).’
Apart from the nine new districts, Dowry Prohibition officers had already been declared in the other 18 districts.
In this regard, Director, Woman and Child Development Department, Dilip Wasnikar, has issued circular to all district programme officers, district woman and child development officers and child development projects officers.
The circular mentioned that the effective implementation of the provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act would help in curbing child marriage. The DPOs are delegated with the powers of police officer. They can use the power if need be.
The DPOs have been instructed to take action as per the responsibility given under Section 8(b)(2) of the ‘Dowry Prohibition Act 1961’ and the additional powers delegated under rule 5 of the ‘Chhattisgarh Dowry Prohibition Act 2004.’
To inform people of the provisions of the Dowry Prohibition Act, the DPOs were instructed to make necessary preparations for holding workshop-cum-legal awareness camp in each development block on November 26, 2014.
The DPOs have been asked to ensure necessary action, in co-ordination with local colleges and schools, for taking ‘No Dowry’ pledge in all schools and colleges of the State on November 26.
As per the instructions, it is mandatory for the DPOs to maintain the list of gifts and other materials given in marriage to each couple in the district, in his office. Parties of each marriage should compulsorily give the list of gifts to the DPO concerned within a month of the marriage. On the violation of provisions of the Act, application should be submitted to the competent court,after taking proper action under the provisions of the Act, it stated.