India to get tough with abusive NRI husbands

Impounding passports of such people will cut cases of desertions, divorces, experts say

Cases of divorces and desertions among Indian expats can be reduced if the government implements a proposal to impound or cancel the passports of NonResident Indians (NRIs) who harass or desert their wives, experts dealing with these issues have said.

This is one of the major proposals by a high level panel instituted by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

“This certainly is a welcome initiative due to a steady rise in such cases registered at the Consulate General of India and Indian Workers’ Resource Centre [IWRC] in Dubai,” said Sailaja Menon, a member of the panel of psychologists at the IWRC.

“If this proposal is implemented, Indian missions can impound the passports of the abusive husbands and deport them for surrendering before the courts in India,” Bindu Suresh Chettur, a legal counsellor at IWRC, said.

There are several support mechanisms offered to Indian women deserted by their husbands in the UAE including financial aid up to $3,000 (Dh11,000), a senior official said. From September 1, Indian missions in the UAE can disburse up to Dh11,000 to Indian women abandoned or cheated or abused by their spouses if they do not have any means of livelihood, Dinesh Kumar, first secretary at the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi told Gulf News.

This has become possible after the recent expansion of the scope of the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). “If deserted Indian housewives have no source of income and no other means to sustain their livelihood, this fund can be made use of,” he said.

A high-level panel constituted by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs last week proposed to increase this fund, which is $2,000 (Dh7,350) in developing countries, to $6,000 (Dh22,000).

The panel has also proposed to impound or cancel the passports of the abusive NRI husbands who desert their wives.

Kumar said impoundment of passports is possible only when NRI husbands do not report to the courts in India where cases are filed against them.

“There is an official procedure to be followed in this,” he pointed out.

The summons from the court concerned in India has to be first sent to the Indian missions here though the Indian ministries of home affairs or law, he said.

“When we get summons through such proper channels, we get them delivered to the spouse here through the local authorities after forwarding it to the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

He said often such summons are not sent in a proper way. “Many a time, the aggrieved people are not aware of the process. Sometimes they send us the request via email. We cannot take action in such cases and we inform them about the procedures.”

Answers to all the frequently asked questions by Indian women facing marital issues can be read at http://iwrcuae.in/FAQ.aspx