Lokmat News Network
Chaitali Joshi
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
As marriages are increasingly shaped by personal choice yet challenged by social realities, a pre-marital counselling initiative at the District Collector’s Office is helping couples seek clarity before commitment. Guided by the National Commission for Women, the ‘Swapna Tujhe Majhe – pre-marital counselling centre’, launched in March 2025, has counselled nearly 287 individuals over the past year.
A significant share of cases involves inter-caste relationships, where family acceptance remains a major source of stress despite financial or professional stability. In one instance, a well-settled couple reportedly spent nearly a decade convincing their families before receiving approval for marriage, underscoring the emotional strain often linked to caste-based resistance.
While love marriages account for a large proportion of cases, those entering arranged marriages are encouraged to engage in structured discussions on expectations, finances and shared responsibilities — conversations that often remain unaddressed within families.
The centre receives participants from both rural and urban backgrounds, including young professionals, farmers and government employees. In one case, a farmer and a government employee approached the centre seeking guidance on lifestyle and compatibility concerns prior to marriage.
In certain instances, counselling has led couples to reassess their compatibility and reconsider marriage decisions. A couple from Vidarbha, both medical professionals from the same caste, reportedly reviewed their decision to marry after sessions revealed significant differences in expectations.
“Marriage is a beautiful bond if one is able to sustain it. Often, the answers lie within the couples themselves; our role is simply to guide them towards the right path. The first step is to understand whether they are aligned in the future they envision,” said counsellor Geeta Ambhore.
Beneficiaries say the sessions helped initiate discussions on aspects they had not considered earlier. Parents accompanying couples also reported that many of their concerns were addressed through the counselling process, highlighting the centre’s role in guiding families towards informed marital decisions.
(AI PHOTO)