Date:04/11/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/11/04/stories/2004110401831700.htm

Back BharatMatrimony's new facility

Our Bureau

Chennai , Nov. 3

BHARATMATRIMONY.COM, a portal that aims to facilitate marriages, has expanded its scope by providing its users with a paid service to verify the credentials of people who register with it.

At a press conference here on Wednesday, the portal's CEO, Mr J. Murugavel, explained that the verification process, "Veriprofile", is based on consent. Only if a portal user consents would the credentials be verified.

For instance, if a user wishes to check the credentials of another registered user, BharatMatrimony.com would undertake the task. The user whose credentials are to be verified would be approached, and following his consent, the credentials would be checked by an independent agency, ONICRA.

Mr Murugavel said the portal would not reveal the identity of the user who initiated the whole thing.

The verification would cover areas such as income, family background and blood group. The portal also allows self-verification - users could get ONICRA verify their own credentials. All verifications cost Rs 250.

Mr Murugavel said that they had sought to protect the business process underpinning Veriprofile through a patent application.

He added that the database could subsequently be leveraged - with the users' consent - by finance companies.