Lok Sabha Question No. 3139 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-14
Subject: Complaints from NRI Women
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION No.3139 BE ANSWERED ON 14.03.2018

## COMPLAINTS FROM NRI WOMEN

3139.    SHRI SISIR KUMAR ADHIKARI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government receives regularly on an average dowry complaints one every eight hours from abroad since the last three years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, year-wise since 2014;
- (c) the details of the action taken by the Government and the response of the foreign countries on the desertion cases; and
- (d) the details of instructions and regulations issued to Overseas Missions of India to act immediately on receipt of the complaint ?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN.(DR) V.K.SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & b) The Ministry   has   been   receiving   petitions  including   dowry-related complaints, harassment & ill treatment by the husband and his family etc.  from distressed Indian women married to NRI spouses. They also request the Ministry & the Missions/Posts for assistance in serving judicial summons for Court proceedings in India; assistance in obtaining maintenance and child support from the spouse; request   for   repatriation   of   the   spouse   to   India   etc.  Year-wise   details   of   such complaints received and addressed by the Ministry since 2014 are given below:

| Year                            |   Number of complaints received |   Number of complaints addressed |
|---------------------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------------|
| 2014 (only in Missions & Posts) |                             276 |                              276 |
| 2015                            |                             796 |                              796 |

| 2016   |   1510 |   1510 |
|--------|--------|--------|
| 2017   |   1186 |   1186 |
| Total  |   3768 |   3768 |

- (c)   This Ministry including the Indian Missions/Posts have assisted distressed Indian women deserted by their  NRI   spouses   by   way   of   providing   them   counseling, guidance   and   information   about   procedures,   mechanisms   for   serving   judicial summons on the Overseas Indian husband; filing a case in India, issuing Look Out Circulars; impounding and revocation of Indian passport of the husband; getting access to lawyers and NGOs empanelled with Indian Missions etc. and legal and financial assistance under ICWF Scheme.

The issue of dowry is generally not a cognizable offence in foreign countries. However, as the issue of dowry leads to domestic & other acts of violence, either of the estrange spouses or both look for legal remedies. The Ministry has sensitized the countries with larger number of diaspora about the plight of distressed Indian women deserted by their NRI spouses. Although they appreciate our view point, they are unable to interfere in judicial processes of their countries.

- (d) With an aim to provide financial and legal assistance by all Missions and Posts to distressed women married to NRI spouses, the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) Guidelines were revised in September, 2017. The amount of legal & financial assistance to distressed Indian women has also been increased to US$ 4000 per case.  The assistance is released to the empanelled legal counsel of the applicant or Indian Community Association / Women's Organisation/NGO concerned to enable it to take steps to assist the woman in documentation and preparatory work for filing the case. The Missions/Posts have also been empowered to provide emergency lodging and boarding to distressed Indian women.

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