Mumbai:
The last ray of hope for couples having discord in their marital life has stopped functioning.
The counselling centre at Bandra Family Court in Mumbai, which started operating since 2006, stopped functioning since four months for want of funds.
With the closure of the counselling centre at the Bandra family court, litigants are being told to go to private counsellors or government hospitals.
The centre was voluntarily set up by a Pune-based trust to help distressed litigants who approach the court to sort out their family disputes.
With the closure of the centre, litigants are being directed to private counsellors or government hospitals.
"Yes, the centre has been closed," head of Seher Project, Radhika Sharma, told Mid Day.
"It provided relief to people undergoing stress. The court provided the infrastructure, but it was difficult to give service as we had no funding."
Help needed?Marriage counsellors at the family court say litigants do need counselling. "Many are disheartened since they have nowhere to go," said a counsellor.
A private psychologist based in Juhu, Palak Shah, said a counselling centre can help stressed persons develop their personality and understand it better.
"Counsellors can help deal with trauma better and also aid in resolving petty issues," said Shah.
However, lawyers practising at the family court feel a counselling centre is not needed. "These centres are not needed," said Advocate Rachna Jain. "Of 10 cases , one could possibly require psychological help, not everyone does."
Advocate Tara Hegde agreed. "Applicants are not sick, they come to court to settle their differences legally," said Hegde. "Besides, there were no qualified counsellors at the centre."