Question : ABANDONING OF NRI BRIDES

(a) whether the Government is aware that a lot of NRI husbands are abandoning their wives in India ;

(b) if so, the details thereof ;

(c) whether the Government is proposing to take concrete steps in the matter ;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the progress made in this regard so far;

(e) the details of the number of cases reported in this regard during the last one year, State-wise;

(f) the action taken against each of these reported cases;

(g) whether an alleged marriage racket functioning to allow entry into Britain has been unearthed recently; and

(h) if so, the details thereof and the effective measures contemplated to provide necessary assistance to these hapless girls ?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) IN MINISTRY OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS (SHRI JAGDISH TYTLER)

(a) to (h) A statement is placed on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO PART (A) TO (H) TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 297 TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.3.2005 REGARDING `ABANDONING OF NRI BRIDES`.

(a & b) Some cases have been brought to the notice of Government.

(c & d) The action taken so far has been to request the State Governments to take remedial measures including creation of separate cells to provide free legal counseling for the prospective brides. Indian diplomatic Missions render all possible assistance to such cases.

(e & f) One case each from West Bengal, Haryana, Maharasthra, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab, and three cases from Delhi have been brought to the notice of the Ministry. Of these, the cases of Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and one of Delhi are sub-judice. Two cases of Delhi and one of Haryana are of Consular nature. In one case of Punjab, relevant details have been sought.

(g & h) Yes, Sir as per a media report, twenty bogus Indian brides, three husbands and a genuinely married couple of fake wedding fixers have been convicted and sentenced to total of 35 years for running a lucrative marriage business between Indians seeking entry into the UK and British passport holders of Indian origin. The report also mentioned that some of the fake weddings took place in Britain, while others occurred in India over a three-year period starting in 2000.