NEW DELHI, 20 February 2007 — In the wake of increased cases of Indian women falling prey to fraudulent NRI marriages, the government yesterday announced financial aid for such women to seek legal aid and counseling services through its foreign missions.
Under the new scheme, to be initially introduced in the United States, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain, the government will provide $1,000 to women who have either been deserted or divorced by their overseas Indian spouses within two years of marriage.
“The assistance will be provided to Indian women who are victims of fraudulent marriages and deserted by their overseas Indian husbands or are facing divorce proceedings in a foreign country,” Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi said.
An estimated 30,000 women have been abandoned by their NRI husbands in India.
‘The Indian missions concerned will involve credible Indian women’s organizations and NGOs working in these countries and give them financial assistance to the tune of $1,000 per case,” the ministry said in a statement.
