Patna: Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar is calling up couples who have married without dowry and meeting them to encourage others to raise their voice against the social evil.

The chief minister, who had on October 2 this year started the drive to end dowry and child marriage, drawing strength from the campaign against alcohol started a year ago, on Friday said eliminating these evils will bring down crimes against women and will be a true homage to Mahatama Gandhi.

"Mere eradication of these two social evils from our society will bring about a drastic reduction in the incidence of crimes against women. But, laws alone cannot achieve this. The society must do its bit," he said, adding prohibition has been a success in the state only because of the wholehearted support of the society. "We need similar social backing to our campaigns against dowry and child marriage," he said.

"I have been making telephone calls and even meeting couples who have chosen to tie the knot without dowry. This is a gesture of respect," he said. "If we succeed, it would bring about a huge change in the society and that will be the true homage to Gandhi ji."