Deserted by Love: 1,871 Indian Women Abandoned by NRI Husbands Seek Government Support

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In a shocking revelation, the Ministry of External Affairs informed that a total of 1,871 Indian women who married NRIs have been abandoned by their spouses abroad. This was stated in response to a question by Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu during a parliamentary session. These shocking figures bring into light the grim reality faced by thousands of women, which leaves them in a distraught condition and at the mercy of others for support.

Among the countries where these cases have been reported, Dubai was the hub of such complaints with a total of 1,044 cases. It was followed by Singapore with 256, Doha with 118, and the United States with 112 cases. Other countries that figured in this list include Australia with 62, the United Kingdom with 57, and New Zealand with 45. The data indicates that abandonment by NRI spouses is not confined to any one region but cuts across continents, leaving victims in legal, emotional, and financial turmoil.

In its effort to combat this growing issue, the Government of India has implemented a multi-pronged strategy. Indian Missions and Posts abroad have been pivotal in extending support to abandoned women. The measures include:

Counselling and Legal Guidance: Informs about legal procedures and mechanisms in the respective countries.

Financial and Legal Assistance under the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): The affected women are provided with financial assistance, legal aid, and even subsistence allowance on a case-to-case basis.

Emergency Helplines: 24×7 helplines are established to address immediate concerns.
Support Network: Collaboration with NGOs, women’s organizations, and local Indian associations in helping distressed women to cope with their problems.

For women abandoned in India, the ministry facilitates judicial processes, including enabling video conferencing to ensure the appearance of erring NRI husbands in court.

Despite these interventions, no formal assessment has been conducted to tabulate the exact number of such cases within India. The lack of comprehensive data makes it challenging to gauge the full scale of the problem. Nevertheless, the MEA emphasized its commitment to reducing such instances by organizing open house meetings, walk-in sessions, and mediations to foster reconciliation between aggrieved parties.

Beyond statistics, it is a very personal agony for these women. Many are stranded in foreign lands, without knowing the local language or the legal systems of the country. Abandonment often results in the loss of residency status, financial ruin, and emotional devastation. Missions in the United States, for instance, have gone beyond the normal protocols to provide temporary shelters, return flight tickets, and connections to legal attorneys. As explained by a senior official, “We want to make sure that the distressed receive their lifeline and, ultimately, live lives with dignity and self-respect.

While the government has taken major steps in this regard, much is still to be done. The advocates are demanding more effective prevention, such as compulsory pre-marital counseling for NRIs and stricter laws governing NRI marriages. Greater awareness campaigns and legal reforms might help to prevent potential offenders and save vulnerable women from exploitation.

While the government and Indian missions are trying by all means to alleviate their plight, it is important that their voice be heard and their stories act as a catalyst for systemic change. For the thousands of women abandoned by their NRI spouses, justice and recovery remain an ongoing process.