>From: Sameer Saxena <sameersxn@...> >Reply-To: misusedowryact@yahoogroups.com >To: misusedowryact@yahoogroups.com >Subject: Re: [misusedowryact] Funds >Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2005 15:14:31 -0800 (PST) > >Yes I agree. We should be aware who is joining, and is he a victim or just want to know what is going / try to play a game. Discussion in this forum is a matter/subject of confidence. > >-Sam > >santha n <santhakka@...> wrote: >Hari, >r u in an inactive group member? or joined recently? pls. introduce to us.. > >Raj, >I will try to compose the content. It should look like a moderate ..but same time hittng human to core..Always correct stats, correct info(for which we have document evidences). will shoot street reader to the bottom  our pulse of phamplet content is normal man on busy streets...hit india for jago... > >regds >HariKrishna Machina <hari_machina@...> wrote: > >Hi, > > > >You can count on me for any contributions! > >Please let me know the details > >Thanks, > >hari > > > > > > > > > > >From: Bharati Deshpande <bharati8000@...> > >Reply-To: misusedowryact@yahoogroups.com > >To: misusedowryact@yahoogroups.com > >Subject: Re: [misusedowryact] [nridivorce] Final version. I have inserted another paragraph. > >Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2005 06:09:48 -0800 (PST) > > > >Hi Santha > >Thanks for the offer and definitely I would wrong to say that money is not required to make some impact . Crores are being spent by womens organisations and we have to ensure that our money counts. > >For instance for the current programme in bangalore we are spending around Rs 15000 inclusive of brochures, mike sets hall booking, video camera , Cars for ferrying the speakers ( gorky mananges his own but the doctor requries) , bouquet , presents , booklets, Transportation for getting the press etc, food , publicity, fliers, banners and posters announcing the event > >This comes out of a shoe string budget and spent out our own earnings & the impact that we can make barely enough to announce our existence > > > >Yes it would be helpfull if NRIs can think of forming a group to channelise the funds for increasing the scope of activity and visibility and pressure to ensure that atleat better and earlier justice is done > > > > > > > >Raj <vina.raj369@...> wrote: > >Thanks Santha, > > > >More than money, it is the support and content for the flier will help. > > > >I will check up with lawyer and let you know the view and meanwhile > >can the group prepare for the content. > > > >I do not think cost will be very high. In case it is high, I will let > >all know then will decide further on this front. > > > >Regards, > >Vina > > > > > > > >On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 19:13:43 -0800 (PST), santha n <santhakka@...> wrote: > > > you can check with your own lawyer. I know, it comes into part of > > > constitutional rights, Right to express (without degrading other individual) > > > or > > > ask at your local police station, that you plan to distribute fliers, to > > > help women & men  who allegedly underwent false 498A cases > > > > > > let me know to send a check thru western union, how much is required for > > > such sincere helpful cause..Thanks very much for coming into FRONT > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Raj <vina.raj369@...> wrote: > > > From Pune I am there  for doing as well as contributing. Please can > > > some one from Bangalore check tell , is that a problem, If yes what > > > care has to be taken > > > > > > vina > > > > > > > > > On Mon, 14 Feb 2005 16:01:05 -0800 (PST), santha n <santhakka@...> > > > wrote: > > > > i will share immediately for any such sincere cause... but we need > > > > volunteers from cities. > > > > > > > > > > > > Naveen <victim_498@...> wrote: > > > > Sounds a good Idea. > > > > I am ok with this. I am ready to share the cost. > > > > > > > > > > > > Victim 498 <dowry498@...> wrote: > > > > Good work Guys. > > > > I was thinking about how we can spread it to common people. We all > > > > have access to Internet and understand it very well. But In India its > > > > hard for for every person to have Internet and doing search on google. > > > > I recently was told that there was a Display Board in Delhi where It > > > > was stated if you have been victim of Mis Use of Dowry Law contact tat > > > > this # etc. > > > > If this is legal why can not we get some flyer's printed and then get > > > > them posted at common places especially at the Public Restrooms of > > > > MAN. Also we can get them into the house of people by asking the news > > > > paper hawkers by getting them inserted into the news papers (You guys > > > > in India might have seen at times some flyer's failing down in the > > > > morning from your newspapers). Some one In India especially Delhi can > > > > do for us. And we all can share the cost. I  can myself in fact ready > > > > to give all the cost. Just need some one In India who can do it. Why > > > > In Delhi I want is because most of the Judges and good lawyers, > > > > organizations are based in there. > > > > > > > > > > > > Is some one ready to Volunteer, then we can draft some thing which > > > > will cath the eyes. > > > > > > > > Also Like Rohell Did , some people from our group can do a show at > > > > President House  , those people should not be  right now facing any > > > > thing in Court they will have to show that they are doing it just to > > > > help others!! In fact try to envolve woman only who want to help their > > > > brothers, son's > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 21:20:59 -0800 (PST), Friend Friend > > > > <friendfriend7322002@...> wrote: > > > > > I have inserted another paragraph. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The other side of The Dowry Law, the "Misuse of IPC Section 498A" > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > In urban India, the majority of families have adequate knowledge > > > regarding > > > > > IPC Section 498A, commonly known as the "dowry-law", which was > > > introduced > > > > in > > > > > an attempt to eliminate DOWRY that affects mostly the poverty stricken. > > > As > > > > > per this law, both giving and taking of dowry is illegal, but only the > > > > taker > > > > > is to be punished. Most cases where Sec 498A is invoked turn out to be > > > > false > > > > > as they are mere blackmail attempts by the wife (or her close relatives) > > > > > when faced with a crumbling marriage. Section 498 (A) of the Indian > > > Penal > > > > > Code makes it mandatory for the police to file charges against the > > > > husband, > > > > > his parents and other relatives/friends (whoever being named on the > > > > > complaint by the wife or her close relatives) and put them in jail. > > > There > > > > is > > > > > no penalty (not even a fine) for filing a false case. This section is > > > > > non-bailable, non-compoundable (complaint can't be quashed) and > > > cognizable > > > > > (arrests without investigation or warrants). There have been instances > > > > > where, without any investigation, the police have arrested elderly > > > parents > > > > > and even grand-parents, unmarried sisters, pregnant sister-in-laws and 3 > > > > > year old children. Some accused parents, sisters and even husbands have > > > > > committed suicide after time in jail. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Even in the most obvious case of false dowry accusations (where the > > > > > philanthropic and wealthy Ambati Family from New York were accused of > > > > > demanding a dowry of $1,200 by their daughter-in-law Archana and her > > > > father > > > > > Mr. Nanda (a former honorary Home Guards Commandant) of Karnataka. > > > There > > > > > has been a complete lack of outrage over the leniency shown to the > > > Nandas > > > > > (who had filed the false dowry accusations in an attempt to extort US > > > > > $500,000 from the Ambatis). Yet after being found guilty of such an > > > > > outrageous deception, they were not even sanctioned. Although, there had > > > > > been no public outcry at the leniency shown to the Nandas, there however > > > > was > > > > > an outcry in the last New Delhi High Court case in which a woman was > > > > charged > > > > > with making malevolent and baseless dowry accusations to have even a > > > child > > > > > sent to jail. That was from the women's support groups, denouncing the > > > > fact > > > > > that "This case will deter genuine dowry victims from reporting abuse." > > > > The > > > > > illogic was breath-taking, for we rightly reserve particular opprobrium > > > > for > > > > > dowry seekers. But by making light of the false dowry accusation, > > > women's > > > > > groups are trivializing dowry itself. You cannot debase a currency for > > > > some > > > > > of the time; once debased, it stays debased. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > False dowry allegations, however, are about power, for they mobilize the > > > > > proper revulsion society feels about the crime against the unfortunate > > > > > target. So we should protect the powerful societal taboo on dowry by > > > > > treating those who falsely allege dowry abuse with the severity with > > > which > > > > > we treat dowry seekers. That is the least the true dowry victims > > > deserve. > > > > > Certainly people such as the Nandas who go to such extraordinary lengths > > > > to > > > > > subvert legal and cultural taboos against dowry for their own purposes > > > > > should be severely punished. Not even a day's sentence for such an > > > > elaborate > > > > > ruse is a bad joke. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Madhu Kishwar, a women's rights activist says that even if there is some > > > > > misuse of the dowry laws, she condones it (however, what if the law was > > > > > misused against her own male relatives).  Brinda Karat, the former > > > General > > > > > Secretary of the All India Democratic Womens' Association (AIDWA) thinks > > > > > that the misuse of 498A is of no consequence as men need to pay for all > > > > the > > > > > wrongs done to women over the centuries and her 50 lakh followers will > > > > take > > > > > to the streets if there is any attempt to dilute the dowry laws.  Senior > > > > > Advocate Indira Jaising who is active on women's issues says that there > > > is > > > > > misuse of 498A but the men have to be punished. The NCW chairperson > > > > Poornima > > > > > Advani admits that the dowry laws are being misused, but when she was > > > > asked > > > > > why no action has been taken against those giving dowry, she replied: > > > "We > > > > > must remember that it is the poverty stricken people who are the main > > > > > victims". In that case, Indian society needs to answer an important > > > > > question: "Why are dowry accusations almost non-existent among these > > > > poverty > > > > > stricken people, and the communities and professions where dowry is a > > > > > traditional, and why is it that most such (obviously false) accusations > > > > come > > > > > from educated, modern and liberated families with political and legal > > > > > connections?" > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > If the women's groups are to be believed, then the families who are > > > > accused > > > > > of asking for dowry are criminals and need to be jailed. Is it not true > > > > that > > > > > most criminals in India have political and legal connections and are > > > > roaming > > > > > around freely? No ordinary family would dare file a complaint against > > > them > > > > > because these criminals would wipe out their accuser's entire family. We > > > > > have not seen any of the families who make the dowry accusations > > > destroyed > > > > > obviously because it is the accusers who have the political and legal > > > > > connections, and therefore they are able to harass, humiliate and > > > > blackmail > > > > > others. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Recent statistics reveal that there are almost 33 million widows in > > > India. > > > > > The suicide rate among married Indian men is 3.2 times higher than in > > > > > married women; whereas before marriage, the suicide rate is almost equal > > > > > (IndiaStat.com). Therefore, all mothers (and their husbands) > > > contemplating > > > > > an Indian marriage for their son should be careful as an unholy > > > matrimony > > > > > could be injurious to the young man's health and this is even before the > > > > > marriage starts crumbling and leads to the bitter "divorce wars".  Once > > > > the > > > > > word "divorce" comes into the picture, the attempt is to grab what you > > > > can, > > > > > and what better way to settle old scores and take over all the husband's > > > > > family's assets? Obviously, it has to be countered with the "dowry" > > > > > accusations, the sure shot way of making money as then the husband's > > > > entire > > > > > family is under the gun to settle on the wife's terms. Currently, there > > > is > > > > > no law/way for the husband and his relatives to escape harassment from > > > the > > > > > police, courts and the wife, if she looses tolerance and respect for > > > > other's > > > > > emotions. Also, since in-laws are deeply resented, the bride's > > > vindictive > > > > > drive is molded by her parents based on their knowledge of this section > > > > for > > > > > their own mundane selfish reasons. It is estimated that about 25,000 > > > dowry > > > > > cases are filed in India every year, 65% are dismissed by the courts > > > > because > > > > > they are blatantly false and the rest are settled out of court after the > > > > > wife or her parent's monetary demands have been met. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > There is strong affirmation from several judges and the Malimath > > > committee > > > > > that this section needs to be amended (made > > > > bailable/compoundable/applicable > > > > > only to husband) before it inflicts irreparable damage to the > > > institution > > > > of > > > > > marriage. In the 'Karnataka High Court's judgment, Crl.A. no. 589 of > > > 2003, > > > > > made on 4-9-2003 (Saldhana vs. Rajendra Prasad), the Judge stated that > > > in > > > > > about half the cases, prosecution is thoroughly unjustified.  Various > > > > > rulings from other parts of the country too have questioned the Law > > > > > commission of India's decision to keep this Section in its present form > > > > (eg: > > > > > MANU/AP/0979/2002, Saritha vs. Ramachandra). Several Police > > > Commissioners > > > > > and members of the Judiciary have said that the laws are being used for > > > > > ulterior motives. A women head of a Women Police Station in her > > > interview > > > > to > > > > > a leading daily newspaper of New Delhi gave a courageous statement that > > > > 99% > > > > > complaints of dowry demands are false and baseless. An article published > > > > in > > > > > a Times of India publication states that 90% women prisoners in Tihar > > > Jail > > > > > are locked up because of dowry related cases. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > In a recent interview with HindustanTimes.com, Shobhaa Dé said: > > > "Marriage > > > > > > > as > > > > > an institution is under threat. People are questioning the rules of the > > > > game > > > > > and asking themselves whether they need marriage at all. There is no > > > > > 'perfect recipe' for marriage. Each couple has to arrive at their own > > > > > formula - and that takes years. The single most important ingredient in > > > > this > > > > > recipe is 'love'. Without that, there is nothing. Men and women, who > > > > cheat, > > > > > will always cheat. There is no gender difference. Of course, women today > > > > > have more opportunities to stray than ever before". Sexual encounters > > > are > > > > > mere handshakes and changing partners is as easy as changing a dress. > > > > > Tolerance is virtually non-existent in the current generation, and this > > > is > > > > > resulting in the high divorce rate. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > In most parts of the civilized world, domestic issues like divorce are > > > > > resolved by civil laws. In all criminal law, a person is innocent until > > > > > proven guilty based on evidence. As per the draconian Indian dowry law > > > > (IPC > > > > > Section 498A), the man, his family and his friends are considered guilty > > > > > without any evidence being required, are jailed, harassed, and subjected > > > > to > > > > > extortion until proven innocent and life-long stigmatization. In any > > > > regular > > > > > divorce, there is no way that a wife would acquire a part of her > > > husband's > > > > > property or a lump sump payment from him, when marriage is irretrievably > > > > > broken within a couple of years. However, under the Hindu Marriage Act, > > > > she > > > > > can lay claims to all her husband's family assets. This is the main > > > reason > > > > > for the misuse of the dowry laws. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > The US Department of State has already posted a warning for its citizens > > > > at > > > > > http://travel.state.gov/india.html DOWRY/VISA DEMANDS: A number of U.S. > > > > > citizen men who have come to India to marry Indian nationals have been > > > > > arrested and charged with crimes related to dowry extraction. Many of > > > the > > > > > charges stem from the U.S. citizen's inability to provide an immigrant > > > > visa > > > > > for his prospective spouse to travel immediately to the United States. > > > The > > > > > courts sometimes order the U.S. citizen to pay large sums of money to > > > his > > > > > spouse in exchange for the dismissal of charges. The courts normally > > > > > confiscate the American's passport, and he must remain in India until > > > the > > > > > case has been settled. There are also cases of U.S. citizen women whose > > > > > families force them against their will into marriages to Indian > > > nationals. > > > > > > > > > > The Ambati case is a prime example of how the Dowry Laws can be abused > > > by > > > > > unscrupulous families to extort money from innocent families, especially > > > > > NRIs and other well-to-do Indians. The institution of Indian marriage is > > > > > under threat along with the future of our families and children. All > > > > > god-fearing people, NRI and the human rights organizations, the Indian > > > > > government and the leaders of the Civilized world should take notice of > > > > the > > > > > growing epidemic of false dowry harassment cases filed against innocent > > > > > Indian families/NRIs and take steps to curb the spiraling abuse of this > > > > law. > > > > > You can read about the numerous other cases of misuse of 498A on Google > > > by > > > > > searching for "India 498A" and also at: > > > > > http://indiatogether.org/2004/mar/law-sect498a.htm > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > > > Do you Yahoo!? > > > > > Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term' > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________________________ > > > > > Do you Yahoo!? > > > > > Yahoo! Search presents - Jib Jab's 'Second Term' > > > > > Yahoo! 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