PANJIM: Even with a near-perfect or perfectly constructed CV, Suchana Seth’s personal life took a turbulent turn due to a marital discord with her husband. This case has sent alarm bells ringing in Goa as the State has seen a significant rise in cases of marital disputes and consequent divorces.
According to reports, Suchana Seth has a strained relationship with her estranged husband which is said to be a major trigger for her to probably take the big step of allegedly killing her 4-year-old son. The divorce process and custody struggle for their son only added to the already stressful situation.
But who paid the price? A child just born with his whole life ahead of him, killed by the woman who gave birth to him, before he even realised what life was.
Auda Viegas, Convenor of Bailancho Ekvott said, “Parents use children as a tug-of-war between two of them. The child belongs to both the father and the mother. But in several cases, there is a lot of vindictiveness in the custody of the child.”
“The woman who has committed this crime should admit and end this saga once and for all,” she said.
Peter Borges, Chairperson of Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) has been taking up issues that are affecting the children in the State. He said the alienation of children by parents gives rise to several problems.
“Alienation of children by parents has long-term negative impacts. It has been observed that the child develops tendencies of getting in conflict with the law,” he said.
“The child endures emotional and mental trauma and there are adverse impacts on children’s mental health and the disruption to family unity. We advocate for enhanced legal protections, improved parental education, prompt interventions, and widespread awareness campaigns to confront this complex issue effectively,” Borges said.
“It also proposes various strategies to create a more nurturing and supportive family environment in Goa,” he said.
Prachi Khandeparker, a Psychologist said, “Since the time I started 20 years ago there has been a significant rise in cases of marital discord. Not many arguments and disgruntled couples end up separating but the reasons for their discord have become silly.”
Khandeparker, who works with the Sangath NGO, counsels several to ease the problems among the couples.
While talking about the impact of these problems on the children, she said, “Many a times the impact of this discord has long-lasting impression on children wherein they feel that arguments, abuse or assault is normal in a husband-wife relationship.”
Adv Caroline Collasso, a lawyer, who handles cases of divorce, spoke to O Heraldo regarding the issues that may have led the woman to probably commit a crime this heinous.
“I understand the crime that Suchana Seth committed is serious. But, we have to go back in time and see what may have forced her to take such a radical step,” she said.
“The child is dead and the marriage has ended. Now, we should be concerned with the mental health of Seth which is as important as the delivery of justice,” she said.
Dissolution, nullification and ending of marriages in Goa are lower than the national average but have been increasing steadily. NGOs counselling couples said that they are seeing at least 3 to 5 calls a day which are reporting unrest and discord among couples.
There is a lot of awareness and early intervention that is expected to be done by the authorities as far as the issues in marriages are concerned especially the couples who have children. Experts say that even religion has to take part and include more contemporary solutions to the contemporary problems that society faces in marriages and parenthood failing which the fear of a repeat of Suchana Seth like case looms large.
