Pre-marital counselling launched at 178 Santwana Kendras in Karnataka

Bengaluru

For the first time, the Department of Women and Child Development, in collaboration with the National Commission for Women and the State Commission for Women, has introduced a pre-marital counselling programme, ‘Kudi Balona’, for young men and women preparing to get married.

An MoU was signed between the government and the commissions to implement this programme.

The programme has been introduced across 178 Santwana Kendras in the State. The pre-marital counseling sessions aim to promote values like sharing, caring, respect, and responsibility.

Shalini Rajneesh, Chief Secretary, who launched the programme on Monday, said, “In today’s rapidly changing social environment, it is essential to develop emotional readiness, mutual respect, and positive communication among young people before marriage. In this regard, Pre-Marital Communication Centres’ (PMCC) are being set up.”

Meanwhile, Nagalakshmi Choudhary, Chairperson of the Karnataka State Commission for Women, explained that the centres will guide young people to acquire essential life skills before marriage, make financial plans, and resolve day-to-day family issues with maturity. “Sharing responsibilities, financial management, building a gender-sensitive family system, and medical examination of the bride and groom will also be part of the programme,” she said.

Vijaya Rahatkar, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, said, “With the addition of these 178 centres, Karnataka is one of the largest implementing States in the country. We have trained counsellors in more than 285 centres in 16 States and Union territories of the country. A booklet on the guidelines to be followed during this counselling programme has also been given to them.”