Lok Sabha Question No. 1653 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-05-04
Subject: Assistance to Women in Distress
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1653 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.05.2016

## ASSISTANCE TO WOMEN IN DISTRESS

1653. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of beneficiaries who have received legal/financial  assistance  under  the  Ministry's  scheme  to assist Indian women  deserted by their overseas Indian spouses;
- (b) whether the details of the scheme has been uploaded on the Ministry's website;
- (c) if so, whether the Government is contemplating to upload the details  of  the  habitual  offenders,  who  enter  into  multiple marriages, on the website of the Ministry;
- (d)
- if so, the time by when the same is likely to be done; and
- (e) the cases wherein stringent action has been taken along with the reasons for pendency of the rest of the cases?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) The Ministry's scheme for legal/financial assistance to Indian women  deserted  by  their  overseas  Indian  spouses  is  provided through  Indian  Missions  in  13  countries  namely  USA,  UK,  Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Singapore, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

As per information made available by March 31, 2016 by Indian Missions  in  these  13  countries,  the  total  number  of  beneficiaries who  have  received  legal/financial  assistance  under  this  scheme during 2012 to 2016 is 85.

(b) Yes. The details of the scheme are available on the Ministry's website (http://www.mea.gov.in/legal-and-financial-assistance.htm). (c) Neither the Ministry nor the Indian Missions received information about habitual overseas Indian offenders who enter into multiple marriages. (d) Does not arise. (e) Under the Ministry's scheme, Indian women deserted by their overseas Indian spouses receive through Indian Missions, assistance  upto  US$  3000  per  case  for  developed  countries  and US$2000  per  case  for  developing  countries.  This  assistance  is provided by Missions through their empanelled legal counsel/ Women's organizations/NGOs or Indian Community Associations. Since  overseas  Indians  who  desert  their  spouses,  are  living outside India, aggrieved Indian women are seeking redressal under the Indian legal system as well as from the judiciary in the foreign country where the overseas Indian is residing. Missions  have  informed  that  through  assistance  provided under this scheme, judicial proceedings have been initiated in some cases vis-à-vis the overseas Indian spouse in the concerned foreign country.    Missions  have  also  informed  that  they  do  not  have information  about  cases  where  the  overseas  Indian  spouse  was arrested or punished. Assistance  provided  through  the  scheme  has  enabled  the Indian  women,  to  meet  legal  costs  such  as  documentation  and preparatory  work  for  filing  a  case  against  the  overseas  Indian avail counseling and, in some cases for financial support for sustenance, spouse and other aspects of judicial proceedings; to accommodation, etc.

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