Ludhiana, November 29
In a changed tack, non -resident Indians(NRIs) "flooding" Punjab during marriage season, this time, are looking for brides who can guarantee a complimentary marriage of an Indian brother or cousin with an NRI bride. Besides the talk in the air, the newspapers, particularly the vernacular ones, are flooded with advertisements saying "the groom was ready for the marriage only in case the girl’s parents could ensure an NRI relation for his brother".

An advertisement reads "wanted a bride for a medical engineer. Only those parties should contact which can ensure an NRI bride for his maternal uncle's son" . Another one reads "a 5'-10'' beautiful bride wanted for a triple MA Gursikh and only those who can arrange for an NRI bride for his cousin should apply".

Avtar Singh, a retired bank employee, said "twice, proposal of relation of his daughter could not materialise with NRIs because they were looking for a complimentary arrangement where they wanted an NRI bride for the groom's cousin." When asked why they were looking only for an NRI relation, the father replied "My daughter is an MBA and she wants to go abroad". Her’s is not an isolated case as there were scores of similar instances.

An insertion in a newspaper reads 'a girl on a student, visa or a working visa in England or Canada wanted for a clean shaved Sikh boy. Only a girl who can manage to get a permanent resident visa for his son abroad should apply."There are scores others who are looking for a match of foreign avenue for their maternal or paternal cousins. There are negligible insertions seeking NRI groom for Indian girls in the matching arrangements for the consent for marriage.

A resident of Model Town, on a request of anonymity, said I married my daughter to a Canadian NRI only when I got her cousin in Australia agree to marry his brother in a village in Jalandhar. We had no problem because her Australian cousin too was looking for an Indian groom".

Anil Dhawan, a college lecturer, said " majority of the youngsters want to go abroad. There have been tragedies like the Malta where hundreds of innocents died. Evemn illegal ways are tried. This method might look peculiar, but, under youths’ aspirations to go abroad, parents are forced to resort to such measures which are legal".

Aruradha Joshi, a housewife, said "I know there is nothing wrong in seeking a complimentary marriage, however, the government needs to keep a tab on the NRI marriages.

There are complaints of fraud in marriages and administrative checks are needed to save innocent brides from being cheated. The government first needs to put a proper check on the marriage process.