The Indian Nursing Council (INC) on Tuesday condemned the “derogatory content” in the Sociology textbook for second-year B.Sc. students listing the “merits and advantages of the dowry system”.
”It has been brought to the notice of INC that author and publisher of textbook of sociology for nurses has placed INC name on its cover page. We condemn any derogatory content related to social evils of the society e.g. dowry, using its name,’’ it said in a notification issued on Tuesday. It added that as a regulatory body for nurses and nurse education in India, it “only prescribes syllabus for various nursing programs” which is published on its website.
A page from the ‘Textbook of Sociology for Nurses’, authored by T.K. Indrani, has been widely circulated on the internet and lists four merits and advantages of the dowry system.
Dowry is prohibited in India. Under the Dowry Prohibition Act, taking or giving dowry is punishable. The punishment for violating the anti-dowry law is imprisonment for up to 5 years and fine of ₹15,000 or the value of dowry given, whichever is more.
The Nursing Council said that Section 16 of INC Act empowers the Council to prescribe the standards and curricula for training of nurses, midwives and health visitors.
“As per policy, INC only prescribes syllabus and does not endorse any author or publisher. INC has initiated necessary action against the concerned publisher and author for misusing its name in the content of the book,” it said on Monday.
The Council said that it is also issuing an advisory to all the Universities/State Nurses Registration Council (SNRC) to do proper due diligence before prescribing any textbook.
The listed merits of dowry in the textbook states, “Ugly looking girls can be married off with attractive dowry with well or ugly looking boys”. It adds that because of the burden of dowry, many parents have started educating their girls. When girls are educated or even employed, the demand for dowry will be less and this is an indirect advantage”.
Listing as the first merit, the textbook states that dowry is helpful in establishing a new household. The custom of giving household items like cot, TV, fan and even vehicle as dowry is found in many parts of India, it said.
The most important reason for the grooms’ parents accepting dowry was that they had to give dowry for their daughters’ and sisters’ wedding. “Naturally, they look to the dowry of their sons to meet their obligations in finding husbands for their daughters,” it justifies.
Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi had flagged the issue and also written to Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan.
The Shiv Sena MP said it was appalling that such derogatory and problematic text remained in circulation, and that a textbook elaborating the merits of dowry could actually exist in our curriculum was a shame for the nation and its Constitution. She demanded immediate action, stating that it was extremely unfortunate that such outdated ideas prevailed despite dowry being a criminal act.
