DCW seeks ideas to solve dispute in NRI marriages

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 16

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has sought suggestions from the public on issues concerning disputes in NRI marriages and experts in the matter.

DCW Chairperson Swati Jaihind, who is part of an expert committee on NRI marriages and disputes set up by the Central government, has also written to NRI Commission of Punjab, Kerala and Goa (states which have reported the majority complaints related to overseas marriages) to seek data about the number of cases arising in their states as well as their opinions on the subject.

“The DCW is contacting certain NGOs to seek their opinion in the matter. The DCW chief has written to chairpersons of women commissions across the country seeking their views on the matter,” said an official from the women panel.

The commission has released a special email address [email protected] for people (especially NRIs, experts, NGOs etc) to share their suggestions/ideas/experiences on the issue and the last date for submission of suggestions is July 23.

In the wake of several complaints about women being abandoned by their NRI husbands, the Ministry of External Affairs set up an expert committee on overseas marriages and disputes arising therein. The said committee includes DCW Chairperson as a member along with representatives from ministries of external affairs, home affairs, women and child development and other experts.

The committee has been mandated to identify legal and regulatory challenges faced by Indian nationals on this pertinent issue and suggest amendments in existing legislations as well as new laws/policies to better resolve the disputes concerning NRI marriages. The committee is slated to submit its report by August.

The committee has been looking into areas, including NRI men abandoning women after marriage and the available recourses with the women, current laws/ rules governing NRI marriages, problems faced by children in such matters besides issues faced in summoning and/ or extraditing NRI men involved in domestic abuse cases.

On its part, the DCW has given certain recommendations and suggestions to the committee to combat the issues, said the official.