Protection of NRI Brides

LOK SABHA

The report on “Problems relating to NRI Marriages” was published by NCW after conducting joint regional workshops with Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. It contains various recommendations which include Legal Interventions – International i.e feasibility of signing the Hague Conventions and Legal Interventions – Domestic i.e compulsory Registration of Marriages. To find out the ways and means to assist Indian women who are deserted by their overseas Indian spouses, an Inter-Ministerial sub - committee was constituted in the Ministry to study the “Problems related to marriage of Indian women with Overseas Indians”. After due consideration of the recommendations of the Inter-Ministerial sub-committee, an Inter- Ministerial meeting was held on 7th July, 2008 under the chairmanship of Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs. The decisions have been circulated to the concerned Ministries, State Governments and other Government agencies for appropriate action.

The Ministry has issued guidelines and launched an awareness/publicity campaign to make people aware of such issues. Besides the publication of a guidance booklet on Marriages to Overseas Indians, distribution of multi-lingual pamphlets, seminars, scrolls on TV etc., a Scheme has been launched to provide legal/counseling services to Indian women deserted by their overseas Indian spouses through Indian Missions abroad.

This information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

PKM