iNDICA NEWS BUREAU-
India’s External Affairs Ministry has revealed that it has provided support to 1,871 women who have been deserted by their NRI spouses.
In this regard, Dubai has recorded the most cases, with the MEA providing assistance to over 1,000 victims.
The report from MEA comes in response to questions asked by Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu.
As per official records, Sandhu asked the following questions:
(a) the details of steps taken by Government to deal with the issue of distraught Indian women whose NRI spouses had abandoned them in the country;
(b) whether Government has carried out an assessment and tabulated the exact number of such brides in India, if so, the details thereof;
(c) the details on the number and nature of assistance provided to such women; and
(d) the details of steps taken to ensure the number falls down in the time to come?
Replying to him, the MEA stated that the Indian Government has taken a number of steps to implement various mechanisms to address the issue of distraught Indian women whose NRI spouses have abandoned them in the country.
“The Government of India through its Missions/ Posts abroad extend appropriate counselling, guidance and advice to the aggrieved Indian women about the legal procedures and mechanisms in such cases at their disposal to alleviate their distress,” it said in a statement.
“Indian Missions and Posts also conduct Walk-in-sessions and Open House Meetings for the distressed Indians including women to address their grievances. Online consular assistance is provided to distressed Indian women through MADAD, CPGRAMS and social media. Further, Missions and Posts also maintain a 24×7 helpline for emergency situations. Financial and legal assistance is provided under the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) to distressed women in foreign countries whose NRI husbands have abandoned them and assistance through other mechanisms where applicable such as women’s organisations, NGOs, Indian Associations have been put also in place.
“As regards Indian Women whose NRI spouses have abandoned them in India, all assistance is extended by the Ministry of External Affairs to facilitate appearances of erring NRI husbands in judicial proceedings in India through Video Conferencing,” the MEA added.
While the ministry informed that no assessment has been carried out, it provided the numbers of victims who have received assistance.
The CGI in Dubai has tended to 1044 victims. “Post provided counselling, legal assistance and subsistence allowance on case to case basis,” it said.
Singapore recorded the second most abandoned cases, with 256 victims. “The mission provides counselling service to the NRI spouses and advice them to seek legal assistance. They are also provided the Mission’s panel of lawyers for them to seek legal assistance,” it said.
EoI, Doha also reported 118 cases.
In the U.S., cased were reported by CGIs in Houston (15), San Francisco (46), Atlanta (30) and EoI, Washington (21).
“Ministry constantly strives to address this issue by providing counselling, guidance, conducting open house meetings and walk in sessions for aggrieved women so that the number of such cases are reduced in times to come. Indian Missions/Posts abroad also mediate between the aggrieved parties to forge reconciliations,” the MEA said while answering the fourth question from MP Sandhu.
