Punjab NRI panel successful in dealing with ‘fraudulent grooms’

Punjab NRI Commission has disposed off 60 per cent of complaints of Punjabis settled abroad, mostly pertaining to "honeymoon brides" and "fraudulent grooms", two years since it was started this day.

Chandigarh: The Punjab NRI Commission has successfully disposed off 60 per cent of complaints of Punjabis settled abroad, mostly pertaining to "honeymoon brides" and "fraudulent grooms", two years since it was started this day. Talking to reporters on the occasion, Chairman of the Commission, Justice Arvind Kumar also sought the state government`s support in addressing grievances of the Punjabi NRI community.

Most of complaints that came before the commission were related to women, dubbed as `Honeymoon Brides` and `Nowhere Brides`, aggrieved from marriages to fraudulent NRI grooms, he said, adding that the state had enacted the Punjab Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act 2012 on the recommendations of commission. The commission had also proposed to Punjab and Haryana High Court to set-up two more NRI Courts for expeditious disposal of large number of petitions. It has also suggested to the state government to provide it with an independent investigating team/agency, headed by an officer of the rank of IG, on the pattern of the Human Rights Commission. The Justice said human trafficking was another major issue, for which the state had enacted Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act 2012 requiring travel agents to register with the government. The commission has also suggested setting up of Human Trafficking Victim Relief Fund wherein any amount/fine received from travel agents or upon confiscation of property would be used to provide relief to the victims. It has also been proposed to formulate Law Enforcement Units to hold workshops involving lawyers, immigration, police, civil society and public representatives and other to create awareness about issues of NRIs, he said. The `Law Enforcement Units` and `Human Trafficking Victim Relief Fund` needs to be monitored by a three-member board to be headed by an officer not below the rank of Principal Secretary, he said. Taking serious note of numerous murders of Punjabis in Manila (Philippines), the Commission has taken the matter with the Punjab government and Ministry of External Affairs. It sought the state`s support to constitute a 3-member committee, one of whom should be a senior IPS officer to monitor the cause of such murders, extend support and coordinate with central ministries and the Philippines Embassy in India, he said. If need be, they may also visit Philippines to interact with the Indian Embassy, authorities in Philippines and have an interaction with the Punjabi community there, he said. On NRIs` revenue issues, the commission suggested that there should be an Executive Officer from the ranks of Punjab Civil Services (PCS), he said. The commission also made a number of recommendations, including organising of training courses and holding monthly meetings with DCs and SSPs to sensitise officials regarding NRIs` problems.