When Saraswathi (name changed) walked into a three-storey commercial building near RTC crossroads on Sunday, she did not have any expectations. But the 53-year-old ended up finding a life partner by the end of the day — a 58-year-old widower and retired public works engineer.
The occasion was the second round of Jeevan Saathi Sammelan organised by Anubandh Foundation, Ahmedabad, and city-based Thodu-Needa Sewa, two collectives working towards better living for the elderly.
The NGOs had conducted a marriage meet in the city in 2017, but this year, the turnout at the programme was better, said organisers, with 300 people attended the meeting. Of them, 63 decided to register their marriage.
Speaking to The Hindu , Natwar Lal G. Patel, president of Anubandh Foundation, said, “Older people need companions because they have the right to enjoy the final years of their lives with those they love. After 50, most people find that their grown-up children have little time for them. That’s when they find themselves lonely without a partner.”
Starting 2002, Anubandh has conducted over 116 marriages while Thodu-Needa has organised 100 marriages of couples who hail from the two Telugu States.
In many cases, elderly who live alone tend to suffer from depression apart form being targeted by petty thieves and burglars, said organisers, pointing at vulnerabilities. “Crossing 50 years is not a step towards the end of one’s life. It can be a step towards a second innings,” said N.M. Rajeswari, president of Thodu-Needa Sewa.
No bar
The matrimonial meet allowed participation of people of all castes and creeds. “Those who want to marry without considering caste and religion are allowed to join the meeting. People who like each other should be allowed to choose each other,” Ms. Rajeswari said.
Apart from being non-discriminatory, the meeting also allowed the elderly to choose a live-in partner. Marriages are not mandated for those who seek a companion instead of a spouse. As per the Supreme Court judgment of 2011, such relationships are legally accepted. Most participants of the meeting were those whose partners had died.
“This sammelan will be an annual feature in Hyderabad,” Mr. Patel said. The meeting organised in the city on Sunday lasted hours as people interacted with one another to find the right match.
