The Indian diaspora, which is spread all over the world, has its own unique diversities. It is seen that, even after many years of stay in a foreign land, Indian men prefer to marry Indian women due to expectations of better socio-cultural bonding. However, such expectations are not always realised, leading to cases of marriage frauds, harassment and violence against Indian women in the host countries and in India.

This problem had been articulated in several forums, including the media, right from the time the new Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) was created in May 2004.

Later, at a meeting of NGOs and law firms, the Human Rights Law Network came forward to help put together an Information Booklet based on inputs from all the parties concerned. A copy of this booklet had been circulated to the State Governments concerned in October 2005

It was with this background that the Ministry organised the National Consultation on Marriages to Overseas Indians. The Consultation was split into four thematic sessions.

The first session, chaired by Prof. Lakshmi Jambholkar of ISIL, discussed the information booklet brought out by the MOIA for the guidance of women who are planning to get married to overseas Indians. Keynote speaker Shruti Pandey of the Human Rights Law Network lauded the Ministry for bringing out the booklet. She said that the booklet is a draft version and this Consultation is a platform to receive suggestions, comments and other inputs by which this booklet can be enriched, finalised and published for the awareness programme. Session chairperson Prof. Jambholkar said that the booklet is only a beginning.

While praising the recent court order on compulsory registration of marriages, she, however, said that it will be a great challenge for the Government to implement.

The second session on publicity and sensitisation was chaired by Ranjini Sreekumar, Principal Secretary, Woman and Child Development, Karnataka.

Abha Bhayya of Jagori, an NGO, while congratulating MOIA for taking this much needed initiative, said that, due to different reasons, problems related to women are increasing in several parts of the country. Female foeticide, dowry, lack of voice etc. have persisted in Indian society. To address these, there was an urgent need for a campaign mode which will empower women.

Mark Runacres, Britain’s Deputy High Commissioner in India, said that the local police in his country will be helpful in the sensitisation process provided it is given the detailed legal information. He promised the help of the U.K. Government in this process.

Summing up, chairperson Sreekumar highlighted the importance of sensitisation and publicity and said that the process should be broad-based. She emphasised the role of counselling and said that there should be a nodal agency to co-ordinate the effort.

The third session, chaired by Vimla Mehra, Joint Commissioner of Police, Delhi, focussed on setting up of helplines and support networks Nishit Kumar from the NGO Childline gave a presentation in which he screened a documentary film showing how Team Childline comes to the help of street and destitute children with the support of the helpline facility.

Y. Viki Limaye-Davis, Immigrant Visa Chief in the U.S. Embassy in Delhi, spoke about the legal processes that cause delay in the cases of marriages to overseas Indians.

In her concluding remarks, chairperson Mehra explained the functioning of the women helpline which is working in Delhi. She emphasised the role of awareness and education by citing some examples.

The final session, chaired by Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, identified a list of follow-up actions following this Consultation.

Rounding up the session, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the day-long consultation and said that important suggestions were made by this consultation.