Divorce rate up 30% in 3 yrs

Divorce rate up 30% in 3 yrs

 

Half The Cases In City Are From IT/BPO Industries

 

Dipannita Das | TNN

 

Bangalore: Digest this. The divorce rate in Bangalore has risen by an astonishing 30% in a short, three-year span. From 2,493 in 2005 to 3,243 this year, divorce filings before the family court are registering growth rates that would be the envy of any IT/BPO company. Incidentally, most of the cases do pertain to couples employed in Bangalore’s tech industry.
   While economic independence at the top end of the social strata is seen as motivator for women to opt out of bad marriages, at the lower end, it is the increased awareness of their rights, especially when confronted by abusive husbands. Increased societal acceptance of divorce, better access to courts and redressal mechanism are equally strong influencers.
   Advocates who deal in divorces say that more than 50% of cases filed are from the IT/BPO sector. While financial security is one factor, erratic working hours, work pressures, stress, all contribute to marital discord. Many professionals in IT/BPO sector find it difficult to strike work-life balance which impacts marriages negatively.
   Lawyers say that as the couple has the financial ability to cope with a split, there’s little effort made to make a difficult marriage work. This is borne out by the fact that in 30-40% of the cases, couples opt for divorce with mutual consent. Advocate B Srikumara of a legal firm says a majority of the tech couples heading towards splitsville are in their 20s and early 30s. Many married for a mere year or two. Women married to men a couple of years younger also seem to prefer divorce in noticeable numbers.

Sparring couples seek counsellors’ help


Bangalore: Divorce rates in Bangalore are on the rise. It isn’t as if only professional women are choosing to part from their spouses. Aarti Mundkur, an advocate, says women from all strata of society are coming forward to file for divorce. A large number of women seek divorce due to domestic violence and also because they are not valued or respected, she says.
   Couples do seek help from counsellors/psychiatrists to mend their relationship. Consultant psychiatrist Thomas MJ says the problem arises with long hours of work, night shifts, spending more time with colleagues, etc.

2 different scenarios, 1 result

Sudha and Amit,IT professionals, married for love. A year down the line it turned bitter. Her in-laws wanted her to do household chores when she returned from work. Finding it difficult to adjust, she filed for divorce.
   In another case, for Manjunath, an IT professional, the two years of married life did not work out. He could not spend quality time with his family. Working late at office he failed to pay attention to his wife or be a part in family decisions. Marital discord led to the couple separating by mutual consent.
   toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com