Indian Marriages, made in Hell

Indian Marriages, made in Hell
Indian Newslink 28 February, 2010
Editorial One

We read somewhere that marriage is an eleven billion dollar industry in India, with an annual growth of 25%. With most fathers of brides incurring debts to make the occasion as “well acceptable to the bridegroom and his family as possible,” marriage is indeed a lucrative industry.

But it has also become a fraud and violence-infested industry. Young brides suffer at the hands of their in-laws (often with the connivance of the groom) not only in India but also abroad, including New Zealand. The menace has acquired such alarming proportions that the Indian Government is considering ways and means of bringing the perpetrators to justice.

But that is not an easy process, as proved in recent years. In a majority of cases, the perpetrators are New Zealand citizens and hence remain beyond the reach of the Indian Government and its Diplomatic Mission in Wellington. Cases of young women becoming victims of domestic violence have made the New Zealand Police sit up and take notice but with a justice system that is soft and ineffective, the perpetrators go scot-free, much to the chagrin of the victims.

But a new thinking among the echelons of the Government in New Delhi has lit hopes of minimizing the menace and bringing the perpetrators to justice.

The Indian government is inclined to enact tough laws to protect abandoned brides overseas. Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi is aware that the malpractice was prevalent in New Zealand as well.

“We cannot be silent spectators to our young women being abused physically and verbally after they go overseas upon marriage to Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and People of Indian Origin (PIO). It is time to take action against those who subject these women to such cruelty,” he said.

Mr. Ravi said his government had decided to provide financial assistance to victims of abandoned marriages through Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).

The Indian government has identified a number of countries where the problem exists and has directed its diplomatic missions to handle complaints and disburse up to $US 1000 (increased to $US 2000) per victim through the NGOs.
New Zealand is one of them.

It is high time the poor, innocent and young brides are rescued from the claws of unscrupulous husbands and in-laws.
We have investigated a number of cases involving newly married women from India, left in the lurch by greedy husbands and parents-in-law.

They are made to work all hours, do house chores including cooking and washing.

In some cases, they are made to work outside to earn for the family.

This newspaper has assisted a number of distressed women seek justice in the past five years, some of them qualifying for work permits and permanent residence.

But several women continue to suffer.
Social workers and women leaders in India have called for extension of the Indian law to reach Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) settled abroad and holding Indian passports. A composite NRI law of marriage, divorce, maintenance, child custody and settlement of matrimonial property is likely to be enacted.

But such a law would be useless in the case of people of Indian origin holding foreign passports, although the Indian government would deal with those holding the recently introduced Overseas Indian citizenship.

There is not a single organization claiming to serve the Indian community that has thus far shown any interest in solving this hellish problem.

We therefore call on the two Members of Parliament of Indian origin to launch a crusade against the “criminals residing in families” and stem the growth of untoward incidents. As lawmakers, it is their duty to protect the interests of the community.
We pin our hopes on them.