A first, woman to contest for seat of NRI sabha head

For the first time, a woman candidate has filed nomination papers for the post of president of the NRI Sabha with a specific agenda pertaining to rights of Indian women, specially young girls from Punjab married to NRIs families abroad - particularly in European countries.

Living in Germany for the past 24 years, Gurjeet Kaur Padha (51) said that even after living in western countries, Indian women still facing the menace of 'domestic violence' and are still not treated as equal partners by a large number of Punjabis settled abroad.

There are seven members in the fray for the post of president. Elections will be held on January 27.

"I have travelled to almost all of Europe, Canada and USA and I noticed that newly married girls from Punjab were facing a lot of humiliation and domestic violence at the hands of their own families," Padha said while adding that they (girls from Punjab) are not treated humanely.

"These girls do not share such this illtreatment with anyone including their parents and live in solitary confinement," she added.

"Till date only property and issues of fraud marriages are highlighted, but if a woman becomes the president of NRI sabha then such injustice will be highlighted," Padha said.

"I am fortunate that my husband and my children have supported me and I also urge the women members of NRI sabha to think upon such issues before they vote," she added.

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