erage Lack of dowries leads to suicides Page 8, The Herald, Friday, June 29, 1979 NEW DELHI (Reuter) — Two gruesome deaths have focused fresh attention on the hundreds of Indian women who die each year for want af rich dowries to meet their husbands’ financial expectations. A 25-year-old Sikh woman, married for five months, was set on fire two weeks ago in her home in a New Delhi suburb. Before she died, Tarvinder Kaur told police that her mother-in-law poured kerosene on her while her sister-in-law set a match to her clothes. _Mrs. Kaur's parents alleged that she had been threatened and tortured by her husbanid’s family which — demanded more money lo expand their motor. spare parts business. ; A week later, another new- lywed, 19-year-old Kanchan Mala Hardy, burned to death ina small, dingy bathroom. Her parents say she was: killed, The Hardys say she killed herself, The neighbors heard her ‘scream for 10 minutes, but when they went to her rescue, the husband and mother-in-law were alleged ta have refused to open the door. , Many marriages have broken up and hundreds of “young women tortured or killed because they failed to bring enough marriage money with them, A Delhi police report says 200 women died of burns last year in the capital. Most of these “martyrs to dowry," as the Times of India called them, were newly married and between 20 and 35 years a : were investigated and charges filed against the husbands, The others. covld not be proved because neigh- bors declined to act as wilnesses, says a spokes- woman of Stree Sangharsh, a women's organization fighting against the “dowry deaths," Several women's organ- izations have demanded that . an unnatural death of a Of the 200 cases, only-nine - woman within the first 10 years of marriage should be investigated as murder. The state governments of Orissa, Bengal and Bihar - have made “dowry death’ a criminal offence. In northern Punjab State, the law says that an aulopsy must be conducted en a woman who dies unnaturally within the’ first seven years of. her. _ Marriage. « Dowry is prohibited by law but few parents bring formal charges because of social pressures, -- iE Pramila Dandavate, secretary of an anti-dowry committee, says the existing law rarely is enforced.’ The sixmonth prison term for the offence was not enough for the physical and -mental . torture a woman is put through, she says... In the absence’ of a rigorous enforcenient of anti-dowry laws, the buying and selling of bridegrooms ta the highest bidder continues to flourish among all classes. . The price is determined by the bridegroom’s profession, his salary, caste and family background. ; . ' Police officers, civil strvants and executives are most in demand ‘and bring between ($6,150 and $12,300), A dowry is negotiated well ahead of the wedding ard is given mastly in cash. Among the middle and upper classes, it also includes furniture, household ap- Pliances, a car or a motor Seooter, The price often is lowered or raised depending on what a woman looks like. VINYL TRAVEL TOTE Features zip closure, . double handles with shoulder straps and handy side compart- ment. Assorted colours. Rereeeerererery avec. K mart After Sale Price 13,47 - K mart Sale Price Coocett With convenrent Wi: 6 i \ fe . rm Bde ta Joe, BIG JOHN® GARBAGE BAGS twist ties. Approx. - . 26x36". 10bagsina pack, Shop noviand save! K mart Afler Sale Price 73c K mart Sale Price of 10 C Pack McGREGOR HAPPY FOOT HOSE Cushion foot hose for men. With elasticized lop. 48% Wool/30% Cotton/22% Nyton. Assorted solid col- ours. Fils 10-13. K mart Regular List Price 2.50 - Kmart. Special Price ‘ fia er yt 0 Manayyea! > 0 “ny Ir fpaur adak Trimute - adfet ile daetamat ic ameras WithGray GO" 00 hss | Ie “isc ( § 1a ay flashes le : | i gaubes i ecairs i Ter ty t? ba Pour bee ste la’ a 3cub Larray-8flans | POWERFUL FLA TDispasitif-Beckirs 3 cubesin a pack K mart Sale Price Handy and econ- omical too! Save on pack ot3. ~" Kmart Sale Price ‘, Don't pass this a ssaving by! _ ata at fier medicube cere Fascha comers 2 Fae tpte Bt tou Fett he Xs 3 porn! Tee ECONOMICAL FLIPFLASH K mart Sale Price “X” TYPE MAGICUBES HANDY FLASHBAR 10 K mart Sale Price onto Be nsfuit’ fefecure Ff SHCUBES -479 Pack of 3 89 Each ‘04 Pack of 3 . 20 | BLANKET CLEARANCE K mart Regular List Price Valves up fo 9.37 K mart Sale Price 00 Each — “SUNLIGHT = LAUNDRY DETERGENT K mart Regular List Price 4,47 K mart Sale Price Box COLEMAN FUEL K mart Regular lst Price ; 2.99 K mart Sale Price 33 LITRES a a ~ JACQUARD BEACH TOWEL K mart Regular List Price 4.57 K mart Sale Price 49 Each MATERIAL K mart Regular List Price 2.50 to 4.00 meter K mart Sale Price Meter — K mart Regular . List Price, ; 4.49 K mart Sate Price ‘ CHARCOAL BRIQUETS wx STRETCH ’N SEAL: JIN CUTTER BOX ee K mart Regutar List Price d6c K mart Special Price . PRET TLORRL PAPER NAPKINS K mart Regular List Price 1.29 .K mart Spectal Price $3. 01140 PACK OF 51 GOOD TIMES FOAM CUPS K mart Regular List Price ave K mart Special Price 2:1 20 HEAVY DUTY PAPER PLATES K mart Regular List Price 1.37 K mart Special Price PLASTIC COATED Tin 20 Lb. Bag 0 PEN Advertised Merchandise Policy WELCOME ED., THURS. & FRI no avai fa futchase aie ay eda] ' Leinart eseie a Clare rate at acts w he . . nN uP i ae Maen vacant vad irene ate be ore aval ot wise yu a YY . 4761 LAKELSE AVE. TERRACE —to9:30 PM er eT eleadalinied OR