381 wives of NRIs seek government help

New Delhi : The ministry of overseas Indian affairs (MOIA) has received 381 complaints of women being deserted or harassed by their non-resident Indian (NRI)husbands, a majority of them from Punjab, the Lok Sabha was informed Wednesday.

Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vyalar Ravi said in a written reply that the NRI Cell opened at the National Commission for Women (NCW) too had received 532 complaints since September 2009.

Of all the Indian states, Punjab had the most complaints filed at the ministry by Indian women victims. “There were 94 complaint from that state,” Ravi said.

After Punjab, most number of victims were from Delhi, There were 68 complaints by women from Delhi.

Andhra Pradesh related complaints stood at 36 complaints. Other 18 states had less than 25 complaints each.

At the NRI Cell in the NCW, Delhi had the most complaints with 121 women approaching the national body for a resolution of their problems with their NRI husbands.

Uttar Pradesh had 62 complaints, Haryana 45 and Punjab 43, the minister said.