Urban India may be shedding the stigma of divorce, but a majority of women seeking a second shot at marriage continue to battle prejudice. Widow remarriage, too, is frowned upon by traditional families. In an effort to break the stigma associated with marriage of widows and divorcees, a city-based organisation has launched an exclusive matrimonial platform for them. The platform, parihaarmatch.com, was launched by Parihaar Foundation on Sunday to mark International Widows Day, observed on June 23.
It will largely work on the lines of any other matrimonial site. “We will be adding several features over time,” said Dr. N.B. Jayaprakash, founder, Parihaar Foundation. “We will introduce compatibility features so that people can gauge each other’s interests.”
The NGO will make the effort to verify background details of all the people who have signed up. “The idea is to employ our volunteers to conduct a basic background check,” Mr. Jayaprakash added, while underscoring the need for such a portal. “Even to this day in our country, people are hesitant to come out and speak about this, fearing humiliation by society.”
One of the guests at the launch said, “Platforms like these will empower women. People are hesitant to talk about such issues, and a marriage portal like this will give us the opportunity to consider remarrying without having to discuss it with too many people.”
Parihaar Foundation works for the empowerment of widows providing them legal and psychological counselling, apart from assisting them with vocational skills.
