India, Sept. 14 -- Generally speaking, a girl in the patriarchal system in India is seen as Paraya Dhan (somebody else's property), since she would eventually get married and be given over to her future husband's family. This view is not held exclusively by orthodox Hindu families, but also by families across religious communities, shaped by the larger Indian society.

This traditional view of a girl as a burden has not changed much, despite modern education, even among well-educated working women, just as well-educated, well-off men also do not necessarily consider women as equal partners in life. Girls are, by and large, discriminated against throughout regarding their upbringing, education, choice of schools and colleges, and marriage...