Thursday, January 18, 2007: Erring husbands residing overseas
may well be brought to book if the Indian Government succeeds
in incorporating Indian laws protecting abandoned women in the
existing treaties with the USA
and UK.
At the Pravasi
Bharatiya Diwas celebrations held between 8th to 11th January,
2007 in Lutyen’s Delhi, Minister of State for Women and
Child Development, Renuka Chowdhury expressed sympathy for the
number of young married women in Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala
who have been left back home on the pretext of non-availability
of passports or visa. Since the marriage is conducted in India,
Indian marriage laws do not apply in other countries, and gives
an opportunity to irresponsible husbands to get away.
Cultural variations in the country make it difficult to pave
way for establishment of a single arrangement. For that reason,
the minister suggested setting up of a website in different parts
of the country where such issues could be taken up.
CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat also voiced concern at the treatment
meted out to innocent women by their husbands, and the working
conditions of Indian women abroad. She urged the NRI
community to reach out to the exploited women workforce
through non-governmental organizations they could set up, with
the guidance of the Indian missions abroad. The government is
initiating its own education programme for distressed women stranded
in India.
During the same forum, Renuka Chowdhury asked to take stern action
against female foeticide that leads to distorted sex ratios in
society.
