THIRUVANATHAPURAM: The Kerala police have issued certain dos and dont's regarding Pravasi marriages, which are defined as marriages between an Indian woman residing in India with an Indian man living abroad or with a foreign citizen with Indian origin.
These directives, issued with an aim to give gender justice, have also zeroed in on many problems faced by the women in such marriages and their causes.
The Dos
1. Details as to the marital status of the Pravasi fiancee, employment, employer, financial status, official address, immigration, background of his family in India, visa and passport, should be thoroughly inquired.
2. Along with the religious ceremony, insist on registration of the marriage in India.
3. Frequently interact, either by means of friends residing in the area, phone or email, with the bride after marriage to ensure that there is no difficulty in the marriage.
4. Give an awareness on domestic violence rules of the region to the bride.
5. Start a bank account for the bride in the place of residence, to be used in case of emergency.
6. Keep with the bride a list of phone numbers of neighbours, employers of husband, Indian embassy, police and high commission
7. Leave a copy of important documents such as passport, visa, marriage certificate, bank accounts and important phone numbers with parents in India or with people who can be depended upon abroad. A soft copy of the same can also be kept in safe custody.
8. Try to keep a copy of the personal details of the husband such as passport, visa, voter pravasi registration card and social security number.
The Don'ts
1. Do not enter into a pravasi marriage just for a green card or to search for greener pastures.
2. Do not fix the marriage without actually seeing the relatives of the bridegroom.
3. Do not fix the marriage over phone or email.
4. Do not enter into a marriage blindly believing the marriage broker.
5. Never agree to conduct the marriage abroad.
6. Never agree to a secret marriage.
7. In case of domestic violence or harassment, immediately inform the officers concerned.
8. The laws in India are very womenfriendly and never agree to filing a case
abroad. ENS