The first awareness program on NRI Marriages-The Way Forward, was inaugurated in Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Jhanjeri,affiliated with Punjabi University, Patiala. Honorable Minister, NRI Affairs, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, Vice Chancellor , Punjabi University, Patiala, Prof Arvind, Chairperson National Commission for Women, Madam Rekha Sharma, Madam Meeta Rajeev Lochan, Member Secretary, NCW were the main dignitaries.This program was a part of the series of awareness programs to be conducted by the three state universities viz. 4 programs by Punjabi University,Patiala;6programs by Guru Nanak Dev University,Amritsar and 4 programs by Panjab University,Chandigarh.Dr. Ritu Lehal, Director Women Studies Centre, Punjabi University, Patiala formally welcomed the guests. Madam Meeta Rajeev Lochan, Member Secretary, National Commission for Women highlighted the importance of verifying the passports and related documents before entering into a matrimonial alliances with any NRI. Vice -Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala emphasized that women sarpanches in villages should be empowered so that they can effectively sensitize rural girls about NRI marriages and create awareness about the legal aspects related to NRI marriage disputes.
Honourable Minister of Rural Development and NRI Affairs, Sh. Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal stressed on the need for emancipation of girls through education.He opined that educated girls can be finally independent and they should be encouraged to take important decisions of their lives themselves. The decision of choosing one's life partner should be taken by girls themselves and as a result, the craze for NRI life partners will reduce leading to lesser NRI marriages and disputes.
Madam Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women delivered the presidential address. She highlighted the importance of treating girls as equals to boys in our society so that the menace of NRI marriages is curbed. In the lure of greener pastures, NRI grooms are sought after by parents of the girls. If girls are granted equal share in ancestral property , they will be financially sound and need not look for NRI grooms. Educated and financial empowerment are the keys to weed out the evil of NRI marriages. President Chandigarh Group of Colleges Sh. Rashpal Singh Dhaliwal honored the dignitaries.
The stakeholders delaing with the issues of NRI marriages, viz the police administration, Punjab Legal Services Authorties, NGOs, Member of SGPC, advocates, nodel officer of this program madam Kanchan Khattar, Legal Officer, NCW, Dr. Devinder Singh, Head, Department of Law, Panjab University, Chandigarh were felicitated by honorable Minister Sir and Vice Chancellor Sir. Four technical sessions were held for Sarpanches, Panches, Block representatives,Numberdaarand residents of 20 nearby villages about legal and social issues related with NRI marriages.