A senior official from the Ministry of Women and Child Development told Millennium Post, “We followed up our November meeting with representatives from matrimonial websites with another interaction recently. During the meet they requested us for the involvement of NASSCOM for formulation of draft guidelines to monitor these web portals. The matrimonial websites have specifically asked for the involvement of NASSCOM as this is the body that advises them on their procedures.” These guidelines are being drafted after several complaints were made to the WCD Ministry regarding cases of exploitation and duping of female users on these websites. Millennium Post has been reporting the issue of fraudulent users on these websites since August 2015. The WCD Ministry had last year set up an inter-ministerial panel, with representatives from WCD Ministry, Ministry of Information Technology and Ministry of Home Affairs and also stakeholders from these websites to frame the guidelines.
The official said that the matrimonial portals have already been directed to follow certain measures which include uploading ‘a legally acceptable proof of identity’ when a new user creates a profile. Other obligatory measures include having an ‘online Grievance Redressal mechanism’ on their webpage and a compulsory disclaimer stating that the only reason for using their services is for “marriage purposes” and no other activity will be permitted on them.
A WCD official said, “We have told these website operators about all our requirements which include uploading compulsory proof of identity, also it is obligatory now that each of these websites carry a clear message stating that it is only meant for serious matrimonial purpose, establishing a Grievance Redressal mechanism and several other measures. These websites have agreed to implement all these crucial requirements but have also asked that NASSCOM should be brought on board.
“We will now have one more meeting with representatives from NASSCOM along with other stakeholders to finalize the guidelines. We have prepared draft guidelines and sent them to all the stakeholders. On the basis on these guidelines only we had the last meeting. The next and final meeting will have the presence of NASSCOM to finalize the guidelines,” added the official.
Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Sanjay Gandhi is spearheading the campaign wherein matrimonial sites will be monitored and action would be taken against fraudulent users. Gandhi had earlier said: “This is a very serious issue and severe action should be taken against these people (matrimonial websites) because they need to address the concerns of the people who are being harassed through their websites.”