More often than not, our parents or caregivers consider the custom of dowry
KARACHI: A recent campaign run by our local celebrities in collaboration with an international non-governmental organisation has caught everyone’s attention. The UN Women began a campaign to advocate against the culture of dowry in our marriages by roping in A-list celebrities and painting their palms with mehndi with the #JahezKhoriBandKaro.
While this is a great initiative and needs all the attention, but such a campaign which is limited to the users of social media makes little change. While the menace of dowry is prevalent in every segment of our country, irrespective of one’s class, creed and ethnicity, such a mindset is witnessed in our older generation who are relatively not so net savvy.
More often than not, our parents or caregivers consider the custom of dowry. It becomes almost impossible for others to reason with them against this custom. As a result, such campaigns though well-intentioned has little to no impact.
In the wake of this, perhaps door-to-door campaigning might work better. Newer ways should be considered to reach out to the masses.
Mumtaz Anjum
Published in The Express Tribune, January 1st, 2019.
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