New Delhi, NOVEMBER 20, 2004
Editorial, Times of India
This will save innocents from being duped
Some will argue that marriages are rarely made in heaven. For many
unfortunate Indian brides looking to find marital bliss with their NRI
husbands, this is heartbreakingly true. In that context the decision
taken by the Union ministry of overseas Indian affairs to appoint volunteers
to do a background check on prospective NRI grooms is a step in the
right direction. In recent years there have been many reports of girls
from India being duped by so-called NRI bachelors. It is estimated that
there are as many as 10,000 cases in Punjab and over 12,000 reported
cases in Gujarat. As a ministry responsible for the overseas Indian
community, it is appropriate that it should take the onus of running
background checks and protecting the interests of Indian citizens whether
based in India or abroad.
The argument against the ministry's move is that marriage is a private
affair between two individuals. But it's an argument that doesn't hold.
Marriage is an implicit contract between two people recognised by the
state. Without the state's acceptance, the union would mean little both
in legal and social terms. The official ending of a marriage too can
only be done with legal sanction. The state then is the main arbitrator
of this institution. It is only appropriate that the state should step
in formally to check any fraud or breach of promise that takes place
under the guise of marriage. Other evils associated with marriage, like
child marriage and dowry, also needed strong state intervention. Running
a background check can hardly be construed as interference. The state
with its large apparatus has the wherewithal to do so, which may be
difficult for many at an individual level. Instead of always looking
for a sinister motive, we should applaud the ministry for responding
to the problem swiftly. With this initiative in place, many more brides
are likely to live happily ever after.