The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on December 6 reported that 1,871 women married to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) have been abandoned by their spouses in foreign countries.
In a written reply to a question posed by Rajya Sabha MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh provided detailed data on such cases. The highest number of cases was reported in Dubai, where 1,044 women were assisted by Indian missions, followed by Singapore (256), Doha (118) and the US (112). Other notable cases include 62 in Australia, 57 in the UK and 45 in New Zealand. The MEA stated, “The government has implemented various mechanisms to address the plight of Indian women abandoned by their NRI spouses.” These include counselling, legal guidance and advice on available procedures. Financial and legal aid is also provided under the Indian Community Welfare Fund to alleviate the distress of affected women abroad, the minister added. Source: TNS