Indian women want men who can help at home

Indian women scouting for prospective spouse want them to be able to help around in cooking or other household chores, according to an online survey.

Matrimonial website Shaadi.com conducted an online survey with 5,700 respondents to understand "What Indian Women Want" from men they would like to marry.

Of the respondents, 39.5 percent said they secretly expect their men to know how to cook, and 51.2 percent of them wish the men would help them with household chores.

Around 9.3 percent of the surveyed nubile women revealed they would like their partner to be okay with the wife being "financially independent".

Asked what they would expect from men when they meet for the first time, 55.6 percent rated "being chivalrous" as very important, while for 19.3 percent of the women those men are impressive who are "okay if the woman wants to pay the bill".

The poll is part of constant research that Shaadi.com conducts in its attempt to gauge the preferences of its members.

"The result indicates that the modern woman wishes to be recognised for being the strong personality she is. She takes her independence and her choices very seriously," said Gourav Rakshit, chief operating officer, Shaadi.com, commenting on the survey results.

Women were also clear about what puts them off when they meet someone for the first time. As many as 46.7 percent said "To be rude with people from lower working class" is a big no, followed by 39.2 percent who felt that the man "should not be busy on his phone during a conversation".

The top "must haves" in a relationship, according to 48.2 percent of the respondents, is "a person who treats me with respect" and for 40.5 percent of them, it is "one who values my job and takes it seriously".