The Kashmir Valley is witnessing a dangerous rise in marital and domestic disputes, causing severe mental stress for hundreds of women and their parents. The increasing number of divorce cases and post-marriage conflicts have created a serious social crisis that is impacting the societal structure.
According to social experts, factors like unemployment, inflation, domestic discord, rising marital expectations, and the influence of social media are major contributors to the problem. In recent years, the number of marital disputes and related cases in courts and local arbitration has grown exponentially.
Daughters' Marriages Have Become a Burden on Parents
Delays in marriages have become a significant issue, with the demands for dowries, high expenses, and strict standards leading to hundreds of young women remaining unmarried. Parents are deeply concerned about the situation and the future of their daughters.
Shahida Begum, a resident of Srinagar, whose two daughters remain unmarried due to the lack of suitable proposals, said, "We don't get appropriate marriage proposals, and when we do, they either demand a huge dowry or set unreasonable conditions. We have no idea what the future holds for our daughters."
Experts believe that addressing this critical issue requires social reforms. The government and religious organizations need to take immediate action to ease the marriage process and reduce the number of divorces and marital conflicts. Parents also need to change their mindset in order to cope with this crisis.