Alarming increase in divorce cases in Goa

Alarming increase in divorce cases in Goa
Preetu Nair & Rajeshree Nagarsekar | TNN

Panaji/Margao: Goa registered 384 divorce cases—or a little over one annulment a day—last year. Five months into 2008, 129 divorces have already been registered across Tiswadi, Mormugao and Salcete talukas. In paradise on earth, marriages are ending in divorce at an unprecedented rate.
Last year, 232 divorce cases—or five couples seeking separation every week—were recorded in North Goa alone. This was a jump from the previous year’s 171 divorces recorded in the region.
Down south, the figures stayed on a similar trend. While Salcete and Mormugao talukas registered 93 and 35 cases each in 2006, divorces jumped to 109 and 43 cases respectively in 2007.
Keeping with the numbers, since January this year, 78 divorces have already been filed in the north, 13 in Mormugao and 38 in Salcete talukas respectively.
“It’s alarming,” said Fr Savio Rodrigues a counsellor at St Britto’s high school, Mapusa, whose clients include children from broken families.
Margao judicial magistrate first class superintendent M Rodrigues added, “Incidents of divorce are increasing in Goa. The break up of the joint family institution has only worsened things.”
Marriage counsellors and social scientists believe that the dependence of an increasing number of Goans on foreign jobs is linked to the increasing cases of divorce petitions. “When one spouse is abroad and the other is home looking after the family, the physical and emotional attachment between them decreases, even as proximity with a friend or associate increases,” said marriage analyst Dr Sadia Marques.
Children are the worst sufferers of broken homes. “I have received several cases of kids taking to drugs to escape the reality of a broken home,” said Fr Rodrigues. Psychiatrist Rajendra Hegde added, “In some cases children even attempt suicide.”
Pointing out that today’s couples are “educated, qualified professionals who know their rights and don’t mind asserting them” advocate Caroline Colaco said, “Being financially independent, the couple prefers to divorce rather than live in an unhappy marriage.”
“Emancipation of women has also led to an increase in divorces as husbands and even mothers-in-law refuse to accept the changing role of man and woman in society. Somehow the idea that man is God is still a part of our culture,” said Fr Socorro Mendes, Family Service Centre, Archdiocese of Goa.
(With inputs from Anabelle Colaco)

2008 May 30 Times Of India Goa