Some women who spoke at a conference against dowry here on Monday said that there was a need for internal quota in 33 per cent reservation for women.
The State unit of National Women's Front organised the conference at the Town Hall here.
A.S. Zainaba, national vice-president, National Women's Front and general secretary of its State wing Fatima Naseema, said that internal reservation would provide an opportunity for women from weaker sections of society to come to the mainstream.
In her address, Ms. Zainaba said that Islam never supported dowry. Many women were dying because of dowry menace in society. Many marriages had become nothing but “financial deals”. Many grooms were selling their personality for marriage agents for money.
She said that many parents had lost their homes and properties for arranging dowry. It was a menace and there was a need for sustained campaign against dowry to get rid of it. Ms. Naseema said that ‘jamaats' should open marriage bureaus to facilitate and promote dowry-free marriages. She said that women were exploited in many ways because of lack of education among them. There was a need to open colleges for women.
Farzana Jaffar Faizi, a teacher, said that poverty and dowry were the root causes for the exploitation of women. Women empowerment did not mean exhibiting body in fashion shows.
Campaign
The conference was organised to mark the valedictory of a campaign against dowry organised by the front in different parts of the State from April 15.
