Bengal's Muslim-dominated areas witness surge in marriage registrations: What's driving the trend?

Kolkata (The Uttam Hindu): An interesting social trend has been observed in recent months in the border areas of West Bengal. According to sources, marriage registrations have increased rapidly among the Muslim community in border districts such as Malda, Murshidabad, North Dinajpur, and Nadia. This trend comes at a time when administrative activity has increased in the state regarding the Special Index Registration (SIR) process.

Local administration records show that marriage registrations at border police stations have increased by nearly 35% over the past three months. Experts believe this is due to legal and civil identity issues. Many families believe that marriage registration will help avoid future complications related to documentary identification and property.

"Earlier, most marriages in border areas were conducted according to social or religious customs, but now people are leaning towards legal formalities. This change is particularly visible among the youth," a senior official said.

According to local marriage registrars, while 5-6 couples used to register their marriages a week, the number has now risen to 15-20. This awareness of registration has also increased due to increased education, mobile internet access, and awareness of government schemes.

However, some sociologists say this trend is not just about legal matters but also about social security. “In many cases, women themselves are seeking registration so that their rights are protected in case of future disputes,” said one sociologist.

Meanwhile, political circles are offering varying explanations for this growing trend. Some believe the move is due to administrative scrutiny or uncertainty regarding citizenship. However, government sources have clarified that it has no direct connection to the SIR.