JOIN USThis Venkates-wara College student always believed that working women were more likely to be promiscuous than stay- at-home housewives. So he concluded that marrying a non-working girl would be ideal.
At the same time, the 20-year-old knew that a working wife would bring in an additional salary which would help them raise their children better since the cost of living is heading north steadily. A confused soul, he met Dr Chitra Shrivastava, coordinator at the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), during a premarital counselling workshop held at his college last week.
After a session, he realised that he had been thinking on the wrong lines.
“It took me a while to convince him that his notions were obsolete, perhaps a result of his feudal mindset, and that it is important for him to come out of it,” said Shrivastva.
“At the end, he accepted that he was wrong and promised to give all the freedom to his future wife,” she said.
With an increasing number of divorce cases being filed in the City courts — along with a rise in domestic violence calls on their helpline — DCW’s premarital counselling cell has decided to target more young people.
The cell has started conducting workshops at different Delhi colleges, almost every week. The idea is to make youngsters in the 18-20 age group who are in a relationship to learn about the rigours of marriage, just before they take the plunge.
The reasons behind friction in marriages are sometimes frivolous, even laughable. Recently, the commission received a complaint about a man who had beaten up his wife because she did not maintain the hairstyle he had recommended.
Shrivastava said according to the National Crimes Records Bureau, cases of divorce are increasing every year not only in Delhi but the entire country. The commission itself gets about five or six cases of domestic violence every day.
“Amidst such a scenario, it is important that couples who are tying the knot seek counselling on various issues that lead to problems in the marriage later on. This way they can handle marital issues with more maturity and understanding,” said Dr Shrivastava.
The commission’s helpline for premarital counselling is 23370146. Those seeking advice can also visit their office at Vikas Bhawan in ITO.