(a) the total number of beneficiaries who have received legal/financial assistance under the Ministry''s scheme to assist Indian women deserted by their overseas Indian spouses;
(b) whether the details of the scheme has been uploaded on the Ministry''s website;
(c) if so, whether the Government is contemplating to upload the details of the habitual offenders, who enter into multiple marriages, on the website of the Ministry; and
(d) the cases wherein stringent action has been taken along with the reasons for pendency of the rest of the cases? |
| ANSWER |
MINISTER OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
SMT.SUSHMA SWARAJ
(a): The Ministry’s scheme for legal/financial assistance to Indian women deserted by their overseas Indian spouses is provided through Indian Missions in 13 countries namely USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
As per information made available by 15 December, 2015 by Indian Missions of these 13 countries, the total number of beneficiaries who have received legal/financial assistance under this scheme during 2012 to 2015 (so far) is 75.
(b): Yes, Madam. The details of the scheme are available on the Ministry’s website (www.moia.gov.in).
(c): The Ministry or Indian Missions in countries where the scheme is operational have not received information about habitual overseas Indian offenders who enter into multiple marriages with Indian women.
(d): Under the Ministry’s scheme, Indian women deserted by their overseas Indian spouses receive through Indian Missions, assistance upto US$ 3000 per case for developed countries and US$2000 per case for developing countries. This assistance is provided by Missions through their empanelled legal counsel/ Women’s organizations/NGOs or Indian Community Associations.
Since overseas Indians who desert their spouses, are living outside India, aggrieved Indian women are seeking redressal under the Indian legal system as well as from the judiciary in the foreign country where the overseas Indian is residing.
Missions have informed that through assistance provided under this scheme, judicial proceedings have been initiated in some cases vis-à-vis the overseas Indian spouse in the concerned foreign country. Missions have also informed that they do not have information about cases where the overseas Indian spouse was arrested or punished.
Assistance provided through the scheme enabled the Indian women, in some cases, to meet legal costs such as documentation and preparatory work for filing a case against the overseas Indian spouse and other assistance with regard to judicial proceedings; counselling and, in some other cases, assistance was for financial support for sustenance, accommodation, etc. |
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