15th May of every year is observed as The International Day of Families around the globe as decided by the UN General Assembly in 1993. This day provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase the knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.

Family policies work as a pivot for national public policies, and the most meaningful vehicle for governments to influence the living standards of upcoming generations. As part of achieving the global ambitions of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), family policies play an important part in meeting targets across many of the goals.

The foundation of all success we see around us is family.

What is a family?

A family is a group of people who are very closely connected. It is not necessary but most common form of connection is blood connection. There is always a head of the family. Father, mother and children are the basic units of a family.

Why is family important?

Family plays a pivotal role in the life of an individual. The very existence of a person is from a family. The three dimensional support system (Physical, Mental and Financial) to a person is provided by the family. A person is like a seed and family is soil, water and air.

“When we analysed the backgrounds of young criminals, the family background played a major role in shaping them as criminals,” said V U Kuriakose, Ernakulam DCP. “After a random check, we found that a majority of the children who have turned to drugs and are involved in criminal activities come from broken homes.”

What are the core values sustained and imparted by family system?

All virtues are grounded in the family system. Family makes a person a good social being. The various virtues we get from a family are security, process of improvement, support, happiness, responsibility, care, sustenance, goal achievement, sincerity, tirelessness, dedication and many more.

Why are organisations supposed to be a family?

Many problems get resolved merely by keeping this belief that we are a family. All the virtues of family system get inherited automatically when we start believing that we are a family.

What are some good practices of a family?

At least one meal must be eaten together in a family.

One must have family time where all must sit together and share their daily experiences and tell about their needs.

Family dos and don’ts must be set. Without rules no family can run smoothly. Rules are like a safety guard of the individuals of the family.

Hierarchy must be set in a family. When all start regarding themselves equal, ego takes the seat. No one listens to anyone. Generally, the father is at the top of the hierarchical system, then comes the mother and then children as per their age.

Confess if some mistake is done. No hiding. Habit of saying the truth must be developed whatever the mistake be.

Everyone should do his work by himself. History says that the family whose children respect the value of doing house chores always remain successful.

Money earning person and money handling person must be separate in a family.

There must be a guide for a family who must not be a family member but a detached person who can help in unbiased decision making.

What is the role of God in the family? Why is the world called a family?

We call the world a family because God is the Father of all the souls of the world. God is the foundation of paradise on earth. Paradise is a world where everyone has a feeling of oneness, a feeling of a family. Every small family is a unit of this world family. If we remember that there is one and only one God, all conflicts that inflict the world would extinct.

What is the objective of a family?

The objective is to achieve perfection in human life where all virtues get visible. Family helps us come very close to God. If a single person makes effort it is difficult to achieve the target but when we use our endeavour unitedly as a team it becomes easy to fullfil all sorts of responsibilities. Desmond Tutu has rightly said “You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them.”