Chandigarh July 12, 2022
NCW in collaboration with Department of Law launches Series of Awareness Programmes on NRI Marriages in Punjab
The National Commission for Women with PU Chandigarh launched a series of ‘Awareness Programmes on NRI Marriages: Do’s and Don’ts, A Way Forward’ across different districts of Punjab to disseminate information on the possible risks involved in NRI marriages, and to create awareness around preventive measures and legal remedies available for victims.
Shri Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Hon’ble Minister of NRI Affairs, Government of Punjab and Ms Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, Prof Arvind, Hon’ble Vice Chancellor, Punjabi University and Ms. Meeta RajivLochan, Member Secretary graced the occasion.
Shri Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Hon’ble Minister of NRI Affairs, Punjab participated in the programme as Chief Guest. In his address he stressed on the importance of educating and empowering girls to take their own decisions in life. He said that it is important that girls choose their life partners by themselves.
In her address, Chairperson, NCW, Ms Rekha Sharma said that it is very important that girls are given equal opportunities as boys in everything in life especially education so that she is empowered and independent. “These awareness programmes will have a meaning only when families and societies change their mindset. Kindly be aware and do all the proper checks before getting your daughters married. It is our collective responsibility to uproot this evil. NCW is committed to raise awareness across the state and we request you to join hands with us,” said Ms Sharma.
The awareness programs are being held in collaboration with Department of Law, Panjab University and in association with SGPC, Punjab State Legal Service Authority, Punjabi University, Guru Nanak Dev University, Panchayats, NGOs and the local police.
These programmes aim to familiarize victims of NRI marriages of their rights. The sessions will also deliberate upon the challenges faced by aggrieved women in getting substantial relief through remedies available under Indian legal system and to seek possible solutions to reduce them. The Commission invited eminent experts from the judiciary, administration and the academia as resource persons to inform and educate the participants on the role played by different machineries to provide relief to aggrieved women.
The awareness programme was divided into four technical sessions, of which the first session was on the ‘Role of judiciary in providing relief to women aggrieved in NRI Marriages’ by Shri Baljinder Mann, CJM, Mohali and the second session was on the ‘Role of Police’ by Shri Bhatt, DSP NRI Affairs, Mohali and his team. The third session was on the ‘Role of legal machinery’ by Advocate Rahish Pahwa and the fourth session was on ‘Sociological aspects of NRI Marriages’ for which the Commission invited Prof. (Dr.) Ritu Lehal and Bibi Paramjit Kaur Landran.
