For Abandoning Wives, External Ministry Cancels Passports Of 33 NRIs

The Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry said on December 12 that the government has cancelled passports of 33 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) for abandoning their wives.

The WCD’s detailed proposal

The Integrated Nodal Agency (INA) chaired by Secretary in the WCD Ministry, Rakesh Srivastava, has been looking into the matter and issuing Look-Out Circulars to absconding husbands in case of NRI marriages. NDTV reported that a senior official said that till now, eight LoCs have been issued and 33 passports revoked by the External Affairs Ministry.

The WCD Ministry said that a detailed proposal, including points like mandatory registration of NRI marriages within one week with panel consequences for non-registration, would be placed before the Cabinet for its approval. Other changes in the proposal include those in passport rules to facilitate cancellation of passports of absconders, and in summons to be posted on a dedicated website of Ministry of External Affairs.

What the WCD has to say

“The WCD Ministry and NCW (National Commission for Women) are taking every possible step to protect women in NRI marriages. We serve as a nodal point of contact for grievances received from women on the dedicated email address [email protected] and coordinate the redressal system”, the WCD Ministry tweeted.

The @MinistryWCD and @NCWIndia are taking every possible step to protect women in #NRImarriages. We serve as a nodal point of contact for grievances received from women on the dedicated email address [email protected] and coordinate the redressal system.@sharmarekha

— Ministry of WCD (@MinistryWCD) December 11, 2018

These proposals will go a long way towards solving the ever-increasing problem. The extent of the problem can be gauged by the fact that according to Punjab State Women’s Commission over 30,000 legal cases pertaining to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) from the state abandoning their wives are pending for disposal.

“The problem of women being abandoned in NRI marriages is a serious issue. For the first time, WCD Ministry, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Home Affairs are providing coordinated support to women facing problems in their marriage to NRIs,” the WCD wrote in another tweet.

Whether it is abandoning one’s parents or one’s wife, whether it is done by NRIs or by residents of India, it is an act worthy of being treated as a crime. The Logical Indian appreciates WCD for its effort to prevent such atrocities from taking place.

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