This is the second blog of a two-part series on dowry in rural India. The first part is available here: The evolution of dowry in rural India: 1960-2008
Bride-to-groom transfers at the time of marriage is an ancient custom that remains widely prevalent in contemporary developing societies, such as India. Although the Dowry Prohibition Act of 1961 prohibits the giving or taking of dowry in India, according to the 2006 Rural Economic and Demographic Survey (REDS), dowry was paid in 95% of marriages during 1960-2008. Dowry imposes a substantial burden on girls’ families as it can often amount to several years of household income.
How dowry influences household decisions in rural India (worldbank.org)
