179 complaints about fraudulent NRI marriages since 2010-11

Indian missions in five countries have received a total of 179 complaints about fraudulent NRI marriages since 2010-11.
According to the data made available in Lok Sabha by Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi today, 66 such cases were reported in the five countries of New Zealand, Slovak Republic, China (Hong Kong), UK and USA in 2012-13.
In 2011-12 the total number of cases were 50. In 2010-11, there were 45 such cases.
In 2013-14, 15 cases have been reported so far by Indian Mission in UK and three cases in the US.
Ravi said that the recommendations made by the National Commission for Women with regard to redefining overseas Indians as including NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs), the definition of desertion, the definition of parental child abduction and making the scheme available to women facing charges parental child abduction were incorporated in the revised scheme which came to effect on November 30, 2011.

He said his ministry operates its schemes for giving legal and financial assistance to Indian women deserted by their overseas husbands through empanelled NGOs and legal organisations.
"Such assistance under the MOIA's scheme is provided through missions in USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Gulf countries," Ravi said.
He added that the amount of assistance provided per case under the scheme is up to to USD 3,000 in developed countries and USD 2,000 in developing countries.