Dowry calculator website values grooms in cold cash; catch is, it may get banned

Dowry has been banned in India, but there are still instances of the same continuing to happen that emerge regularly. The problem is a big one as is clear from the fact that an entire website is up and running that actually values grooms in terms of revealing how much dowry they can demand. From MBAs to journalists, the website provides the actual value in hard numbers. However, this groom valuing website has been put under scanner now. Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi on Tuesday wrote a letter to the Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad pointing out a website that claims to calculate the dowry amount for prospective grooms and requested him to block the same. She also asked Prasad to take necessary action against its developer.

In her letter, Gandhi mentioned about the website: http://www.dowrycalculator.com and said that not only is this shameful but also illegal as it promotes dowry. 

The website calculates the amount of dowry the prospective groom can receive on filling the required fields like age, caste, profession, monthly income, skin colour etc.

“I request you to have this site blocked immediately and initiate action against the owners/developers of the website and the agency which is hosting this website,” the minister wrote, as reported by PTI.

Gandhi took action in this matter and also requested the Secretary in the ministry of WCD to initiate proceedings under the Dowry Prohibition Act in this matter.

Watch this Zee Business video here:

Under The Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, dowry is a punishable offence in India.

The dowry calculator website has an eye-catching legend on its home page too - 'dedicated to all the match making aunties of India'.