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Lieve Snellings | all galleries >> for Peace and Justice >> DAUGHTERS OF FIRE 2009 - DOCHTERS VAN VUUR - FILLES DU FEU >> Daughters of Fire - Indian Women's Court >> 08 - Dowry in the Context of Globalisation > Munni
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28-JUL-2008 © Lieve Snellings

Munni

Bangalore, Karnataka, India

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Munni, Delhi - Displacement and the burden of dowry

My name is Munni Begum. I lilve in Bawana J.J.colony, a resettlement colony on the NortWest corner of Delhi, along with my husband and children including two daughters. Before being evicted to Bawana, I was living at Yamuna Pushta which is a more central place in Delhi.
I feel eviction, resettlement and loss of job has made things difficult for us. I am always worried about how I would get my daughters married off and from where their dowries would be arranged.
When I look around in Bawana, I see that every ne has suffered a lot because of eviction and rehabilitation, but the worst suffers are the women. Back in Delhi, we had lots of opportunities to work and we were economically more independent, but here in Bawana, there are very few options of livelihood. We can’t think of going to Delhi to work, as it is very tedious (it takes about three to four hours to commute each way) and expensive (it costs a minimum of fifty rupees from the workplace to home) to commute. Also, women cannot afford to leave their small children and go out for long hours. So we depend completely on small jobs we get to do at our home from different factories (piece work).
Violence has increased within families because of loss of jobs and related difficulties. There are many more men who are sitting at home and this also makes life difficult for us. Another big problem in our area is increased dug abuse.
Even though I have sons, I have taken a pledge not to take dowry when I get them married, but I am also aware that more and more families are finding it difficult to find a good match for their daughters because their parents are not able to arrange for good dowry. I, along with all other members of Nigrani Samiti (monitoring committee) have decided to spread awareness among my community to promote girl child education as I think this is the only viable solution to dowry-related problems.

Nikon D300
1/60s f/6.3 at 250.0mm iso3200 full exif

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