Ahmedabad: A local NGO here has organised an
alliance meet on November 20 for people above 50 years seeking
to enter into a live-in relationship in a bid to check
compatibility with each other before getting hitched.
The NGO Vina Mulya Amulya Seva (VMAS) has also laid down
strict rules to ensure that this platform is not used by men
to exploit women.
Over 300 men and around 50 women are expected to attend
this unique meet which could be first-of-its-kind in the
country.
"We have organised the alliance meet on November 20 for
people above 50 years, who are in search of a partner...This
meet is aimed at checking the compatibility between an elderly
man and a woman before they decide to get married," Natu
Patel who runs VMAS told PTI.
"We have been organising marriages for elderly people
since many years. But this is the first time we have organised
a meet for men and women seeking to enter into a live-in
relationship," he said.
Explaining the rationale behind the initiative Patel
said, "I have seen that when elderly people get married there
are some compatibility issues between the couples and among
family members like children and relatives.
"So we decided that if an elderly couple first live
together for a few months, they would be get acquainted with
each other and know if they can live longer with each other or
not, after which they could get married."
Stressing that the NGO has laid down strict
pre-conditions to ensure that the forum is not misused, Patel
said, "before the meet starts, we would be announcing the
rules and regulations for men and women who decided to enter
into a live-in relationship".
"Men may take advantage of the arrangement and may
sexually exploit a woman and then say that he does not want to
live with her. For this we have laid down rules in this regard
to ensure that women are not exploited," he said.
Informing that men with financial stability and
regular income above Rs 15000 per month would only be allowed
for the meet, Patel said "women in older age prefer men with
stable income as it gives her a sense of security".
Very few women come out in open showing their
willingness to get into a live-in relationship due to social
stigma and other reasons," Patel said, adding therefore
their security has to be ensured.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, November 03, 2011, 17:39