ABDUL WAHAB KHAN | NT
Panaji
Chairperson of the Goa State Women’s Commission Vidya Satarkar has said the increased use of social media and online dating sites, where young couples seek friendship for illicit relationship and extramarital affairs, has been pushing many young married couples towards divorce in the state.
The reasons for divorce are the emergence of nuclear families, the invasion of western culture, the economical and social independence especially among women, and the use of mobile phones and social media, the commission chief has maintained, adding that marriage is fast losing its values.
The commission said that out of 110 cases received on domestic violence in Goa, 90 per cent of them emerged due to the use of Facebook or other social networking sites, which has led to breakups or divorces.
The state has been witnessing a continuous rise in divorce in the last five years, figures from the law department have shown.
In 2015, about 246 marriages were annulled; the number rose to 278 in 2016 and 281 in 2017.
The same trend continued till 2019. Last year saw as many as 315 divorces, while this year, till May 31, about 108 couples got divorced.
The commission has found that marital discords, infidelity, jealousy and the eventual divorce are all linked to the use of social media.
Social media platforms make it possible for couples to reconnect with others including past lovers.
“Maximum of domestic violence cases that we received were related to extramarital affairs which were facilitated by the Internet use. The young generation has increasingly been getting addicted to social media, which is considered as the “most dangerous place” that ruins relationships. The young married people spend a lot of time in making virtual relations than spending more time and paying attention on each other,” the chairperson explained.
She said that couples secretly check partners’ social media accounts. They argue and fight with each when they find online something about their partners. They argue about secret romances carried on online.
The women’s commission chairperson also said the other factor behind the rising number of divorce cases is the change in the mindset of younger generation toward marriage.
“Earlier, issues such as dowry demands, property disputes and family arguments would push couple towards divorce. But now we have seen cases where young couples seek separation when they realise that they no longer like each other; they develop differences over expectations,” Satarkar reckoned.
She welcomed the decision of the state government on compulsory pre-marriage counselling at the time of marriage registration.
The women’s commission chief believed that the move could make the young couple understand basic nuances of the relationship between a husband and a wife. It would help them as to how they should remain united in love and affection.
Urging courts on early disposal of divorce cases, she said, “Women seeking divorce can’t marry someone else until their divorce cases are disposed of. So we have recommended the state to direct courts on early disposal of matrimonial cases based on the age factor of applicants.”