Pics: Spoorthy Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (NM)

Mangalore, May 21: The National Women’s Front (NWF), Karnataka, organized an interactive session highlighting the atrocities on women after a six-day, anti-dowry campaign at Town Hall in the city on Monday May 21.

After inaugurating the conference, A S Zainaba, vice-president of NWF, said that now marriage has become a financial transaction rather than an exchange of love and women are considered to be a product in the bargain.

Pointing to the issue of selective abortion, Zainaba said that the mother is forced to abort if the baby is a girl. “Though there is a strong law being enforced against the acceptance or demanding of dowry by the Dowry Prohibition Act, the law has remained in the books and the issue is practiced without fear. She opined that even in this advanced era, the practice is prevalent and cited some of the statistics of infanticide and dowry deaths.

The talk was followed by an interactive session on the topic of dowry. Dildhar Bhatkal, secretary of NWF, presided over the session. Fathima Nasima presented the keynote address. Shahidha Aslam compered on the occasion. Zunaida Sultan, Rayihan Hakim, Mumthaz Pakkaladka, Kairunisa Sayyad, and Farzaana Jafar Faizi were part of the session.

The valedictory programme will be presided over by Shahidha Thasnim. Mayor Gulzar Banu, Aathradi Amritha, Kavitha, Kamala Gowda, advocate Nusruth Jahan Kashimji, and Bharathi will be present on the dais.