The Uttarakhand State Commission for Women is proposing to facilitate pre-marital counselling and encourage awareness on basics of gender issues for primary school students. These issues were discussed in a meeting presided over by the commission’s member secretary Kamini Gupta here on Friday.

The meeting was conducted specifically to make a decision to provide counselling sessions to women before marriage.

The issue is being discussed considering the increasing rate of failed marriages. “These days there is no stability in marriages and relationships. Hence, we came up with the plan of providing counselling sessions to these people,” said Gupta. “We have witnessed many cases where in just a few months after marriage, couples start to have issues to such an extent that they want to end their marriages,” she informed.

Gupta said that after noticing increase in such cases, the commission came up with an idea of providing counselling sessions. She said that NGOs, independent social workers, members of the commission and students who are pursuing their bachelors and masters in social work were especially invited for this meeting to discuss the issue.

“We have gathered here to discuss on what aspects should counselling be started and who all among us can volunteer to pursue the job from grassroots level,” she said.

She informed that the plan is to provide counselling sessions at all levels from development block to State level.

“After deciding on this, we will send a proposal to the State Government so that it gets amended as soon as possible,” said Gupta.

“We are also planning on sending a proposal to the Government to introduce basics of gender awareness to students at primary levels. The kids from the very beginning must have an idea about gender issues as a part of moral education,” she added.