Legalise live-in relationship: Pune based group

It has been quite some time now that several groups across the city have been demanding legalisation of live-in relationships.

Legalise live-in relationship: Pune based group

It has been quite some time now that several groups across the city have been demanding legalisation of live-in relationships.

And to press on to their demand, Women's Network, a Pune based organisation, will publish a booklet titled Vivahla Paryay Aahe Ka? (Is there any alternative for marriage?) on February 1 at IMDR College Hall.

"Although, the concept of live-in relationship is not acceptable in our social order, there are several unmarried couples in the city who live together," said Mangala Samant, president of the organisation and the author of the booklet.

She added, "Live-in or such types of relationships should be socially accepted and be made legal." According to Samant, it is a human tendency that couples behave more responsibly when they are emotionally attached.
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"Also, many people don't even imagine marrying someone if they had not lived together initially," she remarked.
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She added the mindset of people, especially the young educated class, is changing in a big way and there is a sheer need to provide them with proper sex education.

Samant said that marriage is one of the oldest institutionsu00a0 but live-in relationships existed in our culture even 4,000 years ago. "Things were fine then and even kids born in such a relationship were accepted," she said.

There is still a strong societal resistance against sex without marriage. "It was more ethical than today when matriarchal system was in existence and a man and woman along with their kids could live together without getting married," she said.

Alternatives
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The booklet suggests four alternatives for marriage:

Where one prefers live-in relationship due to career constraints

Where one wants to live together but doesn't want any responsibility or kids

Where one wants to live together and bear responsibilities and kids

Where one doesn't want to shoulder responsibility of kids and even for the partner.
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Samant said that there are many other options that can be explored if one wants to be in a live-in relationship.