The Hindu : Karnataka News : It’s a chance at a new life for these women

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 21, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Karnataka

Karnataka

It’s a chance at a new life for these women

H.S. Narasimha Kumar

The Government has arranged their marriages

Women and Child Welfare Department collects information about the prospective groom
After the marriage, it keeps in touch with the couple for three years

DAVANGERE: “I never dreamt that my life would change so dramatically and I could lead a life like other women. Not having a proper home and parents, I lost all hope. But now my patience has paid off,” says Mahadevi, a destitute young woman, whose marriage has been fixed for March 24.

Mahadevi is one of the two young destitute women whose marriage has been fixed, thanks to the efforts of the Women and Child Welfare Department that runs the State Home for women and the Observation Home for destitute girls.

Mahadevi left her home when she was eight years since she was fed up with the behaviour of her father, who was an alcoholic. With the help of the police in Pune, she joined the State Home for women there and later she shifted to the State Home at Dharwad, then to Karwar and finally went to the Davangere home for women.

Rajendra Hegde of Inabil village in Siddapura taluk has come forward to marry Mahadevi.

Suma, the other woman, was sent to the Observation Home for destitute girls by her mother.

Suma’s father who was an alcoholic used to beat her mother every day. Suma’s mother feared that the situation would have an adverse impact on her daughter and so she admitted Suma to the Observation Home.

Suma said that she was disgusted all these years and she used to curse her bad luck. She thought that she had no future.

Suma is getting married to Ramachandra Dongre of Mala village in Karkala taluk.

Suma said that the only question she asked Ramachandra was whether he consumed liquor. Only after getting confirmation that he was not an alcoholic, she agreed to the marriage.

Both of them want to forget the past and start their lives afresh.

The Women and Child Welfare Department collected information about the bridegrooms and their background before arranging the marriages. Even after the marriage, the department will stay in touch with the couple for three years.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka