Plight of Indian Women : NRI Marriages

Social MarketingMMM 2008-11

Group 11

Then and Now• History of NRI Marriages

• Present NRI Marriages

What Encourage NRI Marriages?

• Fulfilling academic ambitions and acquiring foreign degree • Leading a lavish lifestyle• NRI marriage is considered as pride in society, Social Status• Family trend (All of my daughters are married to NRI)• NRI’s are richer than Resident Indian• Opportunity to travel abroad• Living standard is far better than India• Movie/Media Impact (Dilwale Dulhaniya.. Karan Johar movies)• Lack of education, awareness about social attitudes• Agriculture Income - no more attractive

Other Constraints of NRI Marriages

• Language Barrier

• Cultural differences

• Employment restriction

• Lack of Social Support

• Absence of Joint family System

• Unfulfilled expectations/Unexpected Challenges abroad

• Ineffective Counselors

Result of fraudulent NRI marriages

– Brides go missing– Women trafficking– Ill treatment / mental torture – Dowry demand– Murder– Discover false education, age , Income proof– Person already married / divorcee– Behavioral Issue (Alcoholic, drug addict….)

• Note: All Broken marriages are not fraudulent

Other related Problem Areas

• Cruelty against wife (498A)

• Adultery • Bigamy, Polygamy • Divorce• Maintenance and Alimony• Sexual and Physical Abuse• Dowry • Child-custody • Social Security• Cultural Shock

• Offenses under Passport Act

• Illegal Immigration/Emigration

• Forged Visas • Illegal / Extended Stay in

India• Extradition • Deportation

Current Scenario• Current no of Abandoned women in India due to

Fraudulent NRI marriages – 30,000

3 Majorly affectedStates

Current Offerings• Creating Social Awareness by “Door to Door”

campaigns

• Advising families to check their Voter Registration card, Social Security nos, Tax Returns for past 3 years etc

• Providing Victims and their families Social Security

Recent Improvements• Registering of Marriage will be made Compulsory in

India – Supreme Court Judgment

• Fast-track Registration of NRI Marriages in Chandigarh

• The NRIs on H1s and their heinous crimes are being uncovered everyday, and more aid is coming for the Indian woman harassed/tortured in foreign land.

• The “Holiday marriage Syndrome” that came with a fat dowry is nearing its painful death.

• Interpol had issued a record 300 red alert notices to trace NRI husbands who were wanted by the Indian government for harassing their wives.

• the H1 dowry-seeking culprits now calling their wives and pleading her to return.

What More is expected ?• Adopting a “Proactive Approach” than being Reactive

– Awareness building for both Bride and Groom– Ground level Implementation of existing Laws– Creating Social Respect for the Victims by means of

Rehabilitations Programs (Shelter, Legal aid, Training)– Bring Sensitisation in the local authority to understand their

problems

– Treaties with various countries having large Indian Diaspora – Review foreign marriage act 1969

• The court registration of girl's marriage with the NRI under the Hindu Marriage Act should be made compulsory.

• The government should set up an agency to undertake the compulsory registration of all inter-country/NRI/ foreign marriages.

• Ex-parte divorces taken by NRIs from courts abroad should not be recognized as legally binding in India.

– “Holiday marriages” that comes to the notice of authorities should be treated as a rape case, brought under Rape law

Abandoned Brides - Statistic

• The figure of 30,000 abandoned brides is unsubstantiated– Attributed to “various sources” by Secretary,

MOIA

• Mere Receipt of a Complaint can not be reason enough to classify someone as an “Abandoned Bride”

• Huge Gap in number of cases quoted by MOIA vs. number of cases mentioned in Responses to questions in the Parliament

Astitva

Its about You and your Identity

Objective• Eradication of fraudulent NRI marriages in Haryana• Goals

• Study the marriage patterns and dowry practices in NRI marriages

• Create awareness about legal measures to ensure care and protection of women and role of parents.

• Identify the various rehabilitation needs of the deserted women both in terms of psychological counseling, economic support, legal aid, social support etc.

• Suggest suitable immigration policies to curb such fraudulent marriages and the jurisdiction for punishment of the offenders.

SWOT Analysis

Fraudulent NRI Marriages

Cases and Resolution Statistics

Target Audiences• Why “Ambala” a village in Haryana ?

• Population : 4.8% of Haryana’s Population

• Ambala registered 47% of Cases of Haryana

• Conversion into Success rate is very less

• Fraud NRI marriage expected to grow in this area– As a NGO we can sense that this village is more vulnerable

due to lack of awareness– People are more conservative and do not share their issues

• High Influence of “Gram Panchayat”

• Good Blend of people– Educated, uneducated, rich, poor, farmer, industrialist,

business man, worker

Target Audiences

– Audience• Final Year female College Students• Family having Daughter with age above 18

– Related Audience• Potential Grooms

Associates/Network

• Institutions Involved in Social Awareness : • Police• Law makers• Panchayat (Lowest level of Governance)• NGO’s (both Indian and International)• Embassy (India and Abroad)• Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA)• National Commission for Women (NCW)• Corporate

Competition within• Understanding mindsets of different community and class

• The “to be bride” may have to wait more to identify genuine partner.

• May compromise on the wealth part of Groom.

• The verification process may require more transparency from both Bride and groom, which may lead to reveal more personal shortcomings.

• Quick marriage decisions in fear of “Loss of Opportunity” without understanding each other (Bride and Groom)

• Superstitions

Case Study

Concept

• We as an NGO cannot work in Isolation or independent• We will work as an link/Communicator between (MOIA,

NCW) and the local people– Provide suggestion to Govt Bodies– Highlight the local issues to Govt Bodies– Convey the message to local people from Govt Bodies– Assist Govt in implementing new strategies – Enforcement for implementation of Law– Counseling through Police Stations– Check on Illegal Immigration

• Awareness • Creating Social Respect for the Victims by means of

Rehabilitations Programs• Television Serials/Documentary movie in local

channels for awareness

Concept

• Set up cells to facilitate the verifications of NRI’s

financial, Social and behavioral claims for getting married

• Rescue services for helping the victim to get back to India

• 24 x 7 Toll-free international Helpline and an email ID on which the victim can contact us

• Validating and Revalidating Making an affidavit for Bride/ Groom affidavit stating his current marital status

Action Plan - Gradual Approach

Check list – Prenatal• Education• Age• Address Proof• Religion, Cast• Employed / Business• Income Status• Affidavit stating his present marital status• Property Status (Income Tax returns)• Close Relatives their background & Location• What is your partners nationality ?• Is extradition treaty available with that country ?• Married solemnized in India or abroad ?– Since Rules are different

Note: Women herself forge the document to get Visa, it is important to do the verification of Bride as well

Check list – Postnatal• Counseling

– Where can you file your case ?– When you should visit Indian embassy ?

• Prepare Country wise guidelines/ pamphlet/Booklet which contain;– Contact Information of Police Stations– Contact Information of Indian Embassy, Travel Agents– Contact Information of Local NGO in that Country– Astitva NGO’s Contact Information– Do and Don’t in each of the cases for above mentioned

Checklists– different legal, matrimonial and maintenance rights of the

women

Why Believe us

• Show some case studies, News paper cuttings where we as an NGO’s involved

• Show the certification, awards received from Government

• Involve victims to share their experience about us.

• Share Data related to decline in fraud NRI marriages after our involvement

• Involve Priests and members from Panchayat as an evidence

Thought Process

• Provide link and tickers in all marriage websites• UID information will have your marital status and

background• Authority should ensure a safe deposit money in her

personal account while going abroad (which cannot be used unless emergency)

• Awareness by Threat– 217 fraud marriage criminals punished for life term

• Awareness by Guilt– Nature designed men to protect women and children, why

go against it

Budgeting factors

• Budgets for– Day to Day Activities– Staff & Overheads– Traveling– Time & Effort budgeting– Projects– Campaigns– Promotions/Communication– Emergency Funds

Costs

31

Sources of Funds• Finding sources

– Volunteer contributions– Contribution from Victims– Donations through “Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas”

• Attracting sources• Showcasing results• Processes followed by the organization• Success stories• Getting registration u/s 35 ac of Income tax act

Class of People

Connect to people

• Communication key elements

– Heightening Awareness

– Shifting Attitude

– Strengthening Knowledge

Communication• Sources of Incoming information– Marriage Halls & Marriage Bureau– Religious Gurus, Astrologer from local temple,

church– Marriage Brokers– Barbers– Visitor to Desi Daru Shop– Retired old people

• Note: These sources will also be used to find out the progress

Communication

• Sources of outgoing communication– Creating Social Awareness by “Door to Door” campaigns– Talks Addressed in Gram – Panchayat– Religious Gurus in Satsangs (Narrate current happening

in the form of stories)

– SMS service– Radio Promotion– Booklets– Banners, Posters– Print Ads in Local News papers– Website– Inviting TV media in case of big fraud to disclose culprits

SMS service

SMS Service to women who are expected totravel with their counterpart

Dear Madam• For any assistant related to “NRI fraud Marriages” contact

us at• Toll free Hotline 24X7 : 18003478923• Email : astitva@vsnl.com• Website : Astitvango.com

• Ask for “Astitva” booklet from any embassy counter• We will reach you which ever part of the world you

are• Empowered by Women Rights

Commission

Communication

• Awareness to Counterparts/Potential Culprits– Induce the sentiment that fraud marriage is a shameful act– Induce fear by creating awareness about Law

Place & Time of Promotion • Generally engagements & marriages happen during School

vacation season, e.g. October – December and April – June. • The best time is reach audience is at least 2 months before

the engagement process.– Note: the communication process will continue even

post engagement and marriage.

• Banners, Posters in mela’s like Ramleela• Do not discuss individuals issue in open, a family may not

like to openly discuss any issues in front of public.• Involve people from panchayat and take them along to

brides home, talk to brides family if NGO feels proposed NRI groom is suspicious.

• Regular awareness through radio messages.• Posters, Booklets on “Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas”

Where Mistaken Identity is Not An Option

Call: +91 172 2668567Email:astitva@vsnl.com

NRI Marriages…NRI Marriages…A PRIDE OR PLIGHT?A PRIDE OR PLIGHT?

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Astitva - Recognize the fraud NRI at your door step

Kya aap ke ghar ke dehleez par koi dhokebaaz NRIaap ki beti ka haat maangne kada hai ? Astitva – Use pehchan ne me Hum aap ki madad karenge

Even Ram and Arjun had to prove their Identity/Worth before getting married

Ram aur Arjun ne bhi apni astitva ko pramanit(Verify) kiya tha

Kya aapka hone wala damad ne kiya hai ?

Astitva

Will help you to ensure that you are in

safe hands where ever you are

Monitoring• Monthly & Yearly Review by Managing committee• Review current progress and future Plan– Results of activities will be charted and

measured– These results will be used for further

improvements– Monitoring Frequency of Campaigns/Awareness

programs– Keep checks on Pending cases & revaluating

resolved cases

Thank you“Please Donate your Efforts”