NRI marriages: Indian missions to be more pro-active

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs now wants a more pro-active role on the part of the Indian missions abroad to tackle the issue of fraudulent NRI marriages.

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs now wants a more pro-active role on the part of the Indian missions abroad to tackle the issue of fraudulent NRI marriages.

The Ministry has requested the embassies to appoint a ‘‘nodal officer’’ to deal with such complaints. The designated officials will coordinate with the Ministry for ‘‘speedy redressal of the complaints’’.

Though the Ministry has been trying to clamp down on the fraudulent NRI marriages — cases in which NRI husbands don’t turn up after the marriage or abandon the wife once he reaches foreign shores — such complaints do keep pouring in.

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The majority of complaints comes from the United Kingdom, Canada and the US, and the victims are mostly from Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

According to officials at the Ministry, they receive an average of 30- 40 complaints pertaining to fraudulent NRI marriages in a month. To create awareness among the people, the Ministry has undertaken media campaigns in Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.

The Ministry is also seeking greater involvement of the state women’s commissions in tackling the issue. The booklets, which also forms part of the awareness campaign, will feature dos and don’ts to follow before finalising NRI marriages.

‘‘Awareness is the key and all the other steps centre around this. We are seeking greater help from the state governments and the women’s commissions of the respective states to deal with the issues,’’ Minister for Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi said.

Though the EC’s media invitation did not specify the subject, officials said the briefing would pertain to the SIR schedule. (File)

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