SINGAPORE: ‘Marriage Central’ will be up and running in a few months, offering help to couples with the aim of keeping families together.

It will be housed at the Registry of Marriages, and will integrate marriage and family-related services and also provide counselling.

An advisory board has been formed to oversee its running and Marriage Central will also be available on the internet.

Minister of Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, who spoke at the opening of the Marriage Convention, said his ministry will fund the set-up for the first three years.

Dr Balakrishnan said: "The divorce rate is rising so this is a clear and imminent danger sign. We want to try to help couples as early and as appropriately as possible so that this disaster doesn't occur."

“A divorce damages not only the two people directly involved but it also has enormous implications on children. I don't think we can eliminate the problem but we can minimise the impact of breakdown in marriages on the next generation. This will be an investment well making,” he added. - CNA/vm