Shillong, Nov 4: Though dowry is not traditionally practiced in Meghalaya, changing social dynamics and inter-community marriages call for legal awareness and preparedness, officials said at a training programme held in Jowai on Wednesday.
A training on dowry awareness and legal literacy was organised by the Meghalaya Administrative Training Institute, Shillong and the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority, in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority, West Jaintia Hills, at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Jowai.
The programme brought together Child Development Project Officers, Law Officers, Public Prosecutors, Additional and Assistant Public Prosecutors and police officials of West Jaintia Hills. Assistant Commissioner LBR Marak was also present.
Addressing the participants, Marak said that while dowry is not prevalent in the state in its conventional form, it can appear in different forms such as demands, gifts or economic pressure. She said protecting women is both a social responsibility and a legal duty.
Resource person Advocate Rebinna Subba spoke on why dowry awareness is relevant for Meghalaya in the context of diverse customs and changing marriage practices. She discussed provisions under dowry laws and how they intersect with issues of cruelty, domestic violence and economic abuse in marriage.
Through case studies, participants learned to differentiate between dowry-related offences, matrimonial discord and other forms of abuse.
The session also covered the roles of police, government departments, NGOs and support systems in handling such cases and the need for preventive action, awareness generation and proper referral mechanisms suited to Meghalaya.
