The Hindu : Front Page : Campaign to encourage registration of marriages

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Thursday, Jul 03, 2008
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Campaign to encourage registration of marriages

Staff Reporter

Photo: M. Periasamy

PROTECTING WOMEN’S RIGHTS: Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission K.M.Ramathal (right) launching the campaign for compulsory registraion of marriages in Coimbatore on Wednesday. –

COIMBATORE: The State Women’s Commission has launched a campaign to ensure registration of marriages in the district. Commission chairperson K.M. Ramathal told mediapersons on Wednesday that compulsory registration of marriages would prevent to a large extent violation of women’s rights.

After Coimbatore, the campaign would be extended to other districts, Ms. Ramathal said. It would specially focus on the Hindu community as the number of marriages that went unregistered was more among Hindus than others.

The first phase of the campaign would cover about 30,000 couples whose marriages had not been registered.

The Commission had tied up with the Social Welfare Department, non-governmental organisations, colleges and universities to create awareness about the need for compulsory registration. Volunteers would talk to members of the public to create awareness.

Notices and pamphlets would be put up in marriage halls and public places.

Though all marriages should be registered under the law, the level of awareness about the legal implications of non-registration of marriages was low, Ms. Ramathal said.

A marriage was considered legally valid only if it was registered. In case of marital disputes, women needed to prove their marital status, which was possible only if the marriage had been registered. It would also protect women from anti-social practices and allow them privileges that men enjoyed.

Ms. Ramathal noted that the awareness about the women’s rights in the face of domestic violence was growing.

The Commission had received more than 850 petitions: 150 of them had been settled.

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