India introduced a scheme to provide legal/financial assistance to Indian women deserted by their overseas Indian spouses

New Delhi, Dec. 22, 2008
Sampuran Singh
Rajya Sabha

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has introduced a scheme to provide legal/financial assistance to Indian women deserted by their overseas Indian spouses. The assistance will be provided to Indian women who are victims of fraudulent marriages and deserted by their overseas Indian husbands or are facing divorce proceedings in a foreign country. The scheme has been launched in USA, UK, Australia, New Zealand and the Gulf where several such cases are being reported.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Renuka Chowdhury in a reply to a question by Smt. Mohsina Kidwai in Rajya Sabha today. She further stated that a Ministerial Sub-Committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and having representatives from various central Ministries including the Ministry of Women and Child Development and State Governments was constituted to study the problems faced by Indian women deserted by their overseas Indian spouses and give recommendations. The important recommendations of the sub-committee are as under:-

„« All marriages solemnized in India should be compulsorily registered.

„« Litigations related to NRI marriages should be taken up in fast track Courts.

„« Whenever there is an ongoing litigation in a foreign court, the Indian bride¡¦s case should not go un-represented.

„« A vigorous information campaign may be launched to educate prospective brides and their families to take possible precautions before entering into marriage alliance with overseas Indians.

„« States/Union Territories should pass on information regarding Court Orders against NRIs to Emigration Authorities to prevent such people from leaving India against these orders.

„« Bilateral agreements may be signed with foreign countries to protect the victims of NRI marriages.

 



 

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