Aastha (name changed) works as a company secretary. Four years ago, she married an NRI from Canada. The arrange marriage was not registered and her husband soon left for the country. He later started forcing her to file for divorce by mutual consent. At present, he has threatened Aastha that he will get a one-sided story published against her in a local newspaper. Aastha still wants to go back to her husband as she feels she is a burden on them.

Shefali (name changed) is a Masters in Sciences and a gold medalist. She married an NRI and settled abroad. Once there, her in-laws allegedly tortured her and demanded dowry. When she failed to get more dowry, the husband and in-laws confiscated her belongings including her passport.

Hundreds of similar cases are filed in Chandigarh every year. The Woman and Child Support Unit of the city held a workshop on ‘Overseas Marriages and Their Matrimonial Conflicts’ at MCM DAV College for Girls on Friday to create awareness among students about their rights when they marry an NRI. Traffic SP S S Doon, Senior Advocate Ranjan Lakhanpal and Operations SP R S Ghumman attended the workshop. Inspector General of Police S K Jain was the chief guest on the occasion.

Ghumman said: “We educate our daughters so that they can stand on their feet and contribute to the society. But many suffer without being at fault. Their marriages are arranged with NRIs through bureaus and newspaper advertisements without proper verification of the groom, his educational background, financial status and family background.”

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