Govt moves to help women deserted by NRI husbands

New Delhi, May 17 (UNI) The government has finally started taking concrete steps to redress the plight of women deserted by their non-resident Indian (NRI) husbands.

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs recently introduced a scheme to provide legal and councelling services through Indian missions abroad.

The initiative covers cases pertaining to the United States, Canada, Britain, the Gulf, Australia and New Zealand, said Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi.

A gender advisory group has also been formed to look into the issues concerning women married to NRI husbands, he told the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.

Representations sent to the ministry are referred to state governments and Indian missions for suitable action, said Mr Ravi.

These were in addition to an awareness campaign by way of publishing guidance booklets and scrolls on television.

Recently, two workshops -- one at Chandigarh and the other at Thiruvananthapuram -- were held in collaboration with the National Commission for Women to inform the public about precautions and issues involved in marriages with NRI men.

A national consultation was also organised by the ministry to sensitise public on the issue, said Mr Ravi while replying to a query by CPI(M) member Brinda Karat who said about 30,000 complaints had been received by women in Punjab who were deserted by NRI husbands.

UNI