Women share markable pie of online matchmaking affairs

New Delhi, July 27 (UNI) Almost 31 per cent of searches that hit matrimonial web sites are done by women, showing their markable presence in matchmaking home affairs, a study today revealed.

Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) conducted the survey to track the demographics of the online matrimonial match seekers as well as parallel online activities.

Commenting on the findings IAMAI President Subho Ray said, ''The most significant find was that 31 per cent of the users are women indicating that the gender divide is significantly lower in case of matrimony sites.'' Study says, 37 per cent of the respondents who use the Internet for matrimonial search are in the 18-25 age group, 52 per cent are in the 26-35 age group, 11 per cent are in the 36-45 age group, 9 per cent are in the 46-60 age group and 2 per cent above 61 years.

According to Murugavel Janankiraman, Founder&CEO, BharatMatrimony.com, online matrimonial search services have sky rocketed in the last 2 years and matrimonial websites are continuing on the path of high trajectory growth garnering Rs 58 crore in 2005-06 and expecting to cross Rs 98 crores in 2006-07.

''There has been a surge in users from 4 million in 2004-05 to 5.5 million in 2005-06 and is estimated to grow to 7 million users by 2006-07,'' he said.

Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Founder and CEO of InfoEdge, which manages Jeevansathi.com, estimates the market size to reach 70-75 crore in 2006-2007 up from 50 crore last year.

Further, 25 per cent of respondents, who use the Internet for Matrimonial purposes, access the internet from Maharashtra, 16 per cent from Delhi, 12 per cent are from Tamil Nadu, 7 per cent from Karnataka; and 6 per cent from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

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