Lok Sabha Question No. 3623 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-08
Subject: NRI Marriages
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: RAVNEET SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3623

TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.08.2018

## NRI MARRIAGES

## 3623. SHRI RAVNEET SINGH:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether   the   Government   is   monitoring   the   rising   complaints   of harassment faced by brides in NRI marriages abroad and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has formed a special body to help such brides and their families in distress, to ensure help in India and abroad and if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government would consider freezing of the assets of NRI families   in   India   as   a   repercussion   of   misbehavior,   harassment   and physical/mental abuse of brides abroad and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Ministry   of   External   Affairs   would   work   with   Ministry   of Women and Child Development to identify the women flying abroad post marriage and could arrange regular feedback and check calls for first few years to ensure their safety; and
- (e) if so, the details of any such action plan and timeline, if any, especially for the State of Punjab?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) The   Government   has   been   receiving   petitions   from   Indian   women deserted or harassed by their NRI spouses.  In the year 2017, it received 1022 petitions compared to 1510 in 2016 & 796 in 2015.  Between January, 2018 to and 30 th   July, 2018 the Ministry has received and redressed 765 complaints. Most complaints received from them pertain to:
- i) Harassment and ill treatment by the husband and his family;
- ii) Loss of communication with the spouse after he goes abroad;
- iii) Request for assistance in serving judicial summons for court proceedings in India
- iv) Assistance in obtaining maintenance and child support from the spouse;
- v) Request for impounding or revoking passport of overseas Indian spouse;
- vi) Request for extradition, deportation of spouse to India; and
- vii) Child custody issues.

This Ministry (including the Indian Missions abroad) has addressed these complaints of 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. In   addition,   with   an   aim   to   provide   financial   and   legal   assistance   to distressed women married to NRI spouses by all Missions and Posts, 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. (b) to (e) The Government has accepted the recommendation of the Expert Committee set up under the chairmanship of Justice Arvind Kumar Goel,   exChairperson,   NRI Commission Punjab, to look into the issues and difficulties faced by Indian nationals married to overseas nationals of Indian origin, and suggested amendments in existing laws/policies/regulation. An Integrated Nodal Agency has been set up under the Chairpersonship of Secretary, Ministry of Women and Child Development.  The other members of the INA are  a) Joint Secretary (Internal Security) & Joint Secretary (Foreigners), Ministry of Home Affairs,   b)   Joint   Secretary   (OIA-II),   Ministry   of   External   Affairs,   and   c)   Joint Secretary (Legal), Ministry of Law & Justice. The INA is functioning as an effective body and providing a single window timely solution to the problems of affected women. The INA has so far held eight meetings and has issued five Look Out Circulars against the erring spouses.

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