Hyderabad: Psychologists say that the rising number of harassment cases can be due to the fact that most of the brides marrying NRI grooms are well-educated and do not compromise on family problems after going abroad.
In some situations, the men don’t demand dowry; they just marry the girl to have the house looked after.
Harassment issues are comparatively fewer among men who complete their education in India and travel abroad for a job or to work on projects. Harassment cases are found to be higher among men of Indian origin born and brought up abroad or those who were born in India and travelled abroad for higher studies and got a job there. A similar trend is seen among those born abroad, who have studied in India and have returned abroad for a job.
The cases were fewer a decade ago, as the brides marrying NRIs were comparatively less educated and would adjust easily. The increase in literacy and use of modern technology has affected the chances of adjusting with each other.
“Lack of family supervision, loneliness, inability to adapt to a different atmosphere are leading to trouble,” said senior consultant psychologist Dr Pragya Rashmi. One of her patients, who was married to a NRI, complained that she could not come to her parents’ home for delivery and had to deliver their child in the United States.
She was depressed that she was all alone in the hospital with no one to take care of her. The woman said that had she had her child in India, half the village would be with her during delivery, Dr Rashmi said. Differences in social and cultural parameters are also leading to disruption of relations among couples.
“Most men expect their wives to be modern and yet meet local traditions. Girls from traditional Indian families cannot cope and end up being harassed,” she said. This applies to women of all communities, as also working women who were financially stable.
