Bengaluru: In an initiative aimed at promoting healthier family relationships and reducing marital disputes and divorce cases, Karnataka has launched a pre-marital communication and counselling programme, ‘Tere Mere Saath – Koodi Baalona’, across 178 Santwana Kendras and family counselling and support centres in the State.

The initiative, said to be the first of its kind in Karnataka, has been launched by the Department of Women and Child Development in collaboration with the National Commission for Women (NCW) and the Karnataka State Commission for Women (KSCW). An MoU has been signed between the government and the two commissions for its implementation.

Launching the programme on Monday, Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh said the rapidly changing social environment had made it increasingly important for young people to develop emotional maturity, mutual respect and healthy communication before entering into marriage.

The pre-marital communication and counselling centres will seek to equip prospective couples with essential life skills and help them better understand the responsibilities and challenges of married and family life.

Karnataka State Commission for Women Chairperson Dr Nagalakshmi Choudhary said the counselling sessions would cover a wide range of issues, including mutual understanding, effective communication, emotional preparedness, resolving differences, financial planning, gender equality and mutual respect.

“Sharing responsibilities, financial management and building a gender-sensitive family system will be among the key areas covered. Medical examination of both the prospective bride and groom will also form part of the programme,” she said.

The initiative aims to help young couples deal with day-to-day family issues with greater maturity and prevent minor differences from escalating into serious family disputes.

Five counsellors from each of the selected family counselling and support centres are being trained in pre-marital communication and counselling methods. After completing the training, they will provide counselling services to young men and women preparing for marriage.

Anganwadi workers will also be involved in spreading awareness about the programme and reaching out to prospective beneficiaries. The government is also planning to develop a helpline system to ensure that counselling and guidance can be made available promptly to those seeking assistance.

NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar said Karnataka had emerged as one of the largest implementing States under the initiative with the addition of the 178 centres.

She said counsellors had already been trained at more than 285 centres across 16 States and Union Territories. A booklet containing guidelines for conducting the pre-marital counselling programme has also been provided to the counsellors.

Officials said the larger objective of the initiative is to encourage prospective couples to enter marriage with better communication, emotional preparedness, financial awareness and a clearer understanding of shared responsibilities, thereby helping reduce family conflicts and divorce cases.