CHANDIGARH:  With a view to rehabilitating abandoned wives of the Punjabi NRIs legally and economically, the Government of India would extend financial aid to them.

Disclosing this here today a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs said that the prime objective of this scheme was to extend financial support to the deserted  wives so that they could fight a legal battle for their rights. He further said that this aid would be provided to them through various duly registered women organizations, associations of non-resident Indians and non-government organization (NGOs).

Giving more details, the spokesman said that the NRI wives who were deserted within the five years of their marriage and those who have initiated legal divorce proceedings against husbands would be given initial amount of $ 1000 for the expenses incurred on legal formalities. He further said that legal assistance to get a maintenance allowance would also be provided to those who were being tortured by and deserted NRI husbands even after 10 years of marriage and had been given ex-party divorce provided the marriage was solemnized in India.

Adding further he said that the application forwarded by the NRI brides must accompany relevant documents like the date of marriage, Place, documents pertaining to the registration of marriage in India, date of actual desertion, date of initiating divorce proceedings, passport details, date of ex-party divorce and annual income from all the sources along with details of  financial aid being given at any other NGO/Voluntary organization.

More information could be sought from 9th Floor, Akbar Bhawan, Chankya Puri New Delhi -110021, India and on and .