Students outside Jamshedpur Women’s College. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, Feb. 12: Students of Jamshedpur Women’s College can find a match right after graduation — on their terms. And what better time to start than Valentine’s Day.

The college is opening a marriage bureau as part of its social responsibility. It will, in many ways, be a voice against dowry and will keep the students’ wishes in mind while finding them a match. It will also support marriage for widows and divorcees and support girls who want to complete their graduation before settling down.

After being declared an autonomous college by the University Grants Commission (UGC) last year, this is the most interesting initiative the college has taken, and it will be formally announced on February 14.

The marriage bureau will function in the college’s sociology department. A student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, is creating a database for college students who would be registered.

A website will also be floated with the profiles of the students and astrological data. Interested families would have to contact the college for further information. An internal committee will also take responsibility of doing a background check of those interested.

“Marriage is not only a relationship between two individuals but also between two families. Everything here needs to be taken care of — at the economic, social, educational and at the mental level. Keeping that in mind, our committee will take the responsibility of enquiring about the would-be grooms,” said Mahanty. Jamshedpur Women’s College also plans to help those who have difficulty funding their marriage.

College students from all communities can sign up for the service at a nominal charge, which is yet to be decided. “On matrimonial websites one needs to do the hunting themselves. Here we take charge of the entire process after registration. We are also preparing a proposal, which we would send to the academic council of the college by April,” the principal said.

Students seem relieved about the service. They can now bank on their college for education, jobs and even marriage. “Since the teachers and the staff know what’s best for the students, they would guide us well,” said Jayshri Tiwari, a first-semester MBA student at Jamshedpur Women’s College.

Archana Chatterjee, a first-year English honours student of the college, is happy for her parents. “They have to go through a lot of hassles while searching for grooms. At least they do not have to take any tension about background checks now.” But she will have to wait a while to register for the service, as the college will only allow graduates to take part.

All the college needs to do is decide on a name for the bureau. A beautician’s course is also on the cards — now that’s wholesome education.