Western economic turmoil drops down demand for NRI grooms

Published August 10, 2012 | 3:39 pm

The turmoil in western economies is maring the marriage prospects of its young male citizens of Indian origins. Information collected in this regard reveals that many Indian girls are now turning down marriage offers from eligible NRI grooms fearing that life in the
US and Canada was no more as comfortable as it once used to be.

The Non-Resident Indian has lost in the current shift in the economic stability all over the world. There was a time when all Indian parents wanted NRI grooms for their daughters be it from the US, Canada or the UK. But now a time has come where parents are looking at boys with stable incomes in stable government job instead of highflying MNC or Green-card holders after the turbulence felt by western economies.

Statistically speaking, ads seeking NRI grooms have gone down by around 20 percent due to uncertainty. Increasing uncertainties relating to bankruptcy of companies and loss of jobs and incomes have lead to this shift in preferences.

As India’s economy boomed, the demand for the NRI groom took a nosedive. It is not only the reputation of the NRI that has travelled via the net that is keeping the prospective brides away, but the recent economic downturn has further strengthened Indian brides’ resolve to keep these boys at bay.

Most of previous matrimonials that were labelled ‘NRI groom wanted’ have now changed to ‘NRIs please excuse’. A parent in India today, looking for a suitable boy for their daughter adds the last sentence to their ad as neither their ward is interested in leaving the country for a an NRI husband , nor do they want their daughter to live in a far away unknown land with strangers.

Independence, the desire to be close to their parents, professionalism, growing careers, infrastructure boom and higher
education are just some of the reasons that girls from India are now refusing to step ashore for the sake of marriage.

“There has been a dip in the response for NRI grooms post the slowdown and the demand has fallen than before. People
now are not really that willing for NRI grooms because of the stumbling western economies,” feels a New Delhi based marriage bureau owner Gagan Chawla.

As far as shaadi.com searches go, government employees are among the top 20 professions that are most sought after as
of now.

A NRI,Harjeet Brar , who works as a dentist said he is visiting India , every year for the last couple of years looking for an eligible Indian girl to be his bride, but to no avail.

“I had fixed meetings with a few girls and their families and in some cases, everything seemed to be going fine but I was suddenly told by the girl’s family that they were not interested in marrying off their daughter to me. It seems the only reason I was rejected was that i was a NRI,” said Brar.

Now, while 50% of Indians as well as NRIs discreetly mention in their wedding profiles on matchmaking portals that they are not interested in an NRI match, the remaining 50% don’t put ‘NRI’ as even one of the options in the preferences.

The lure of the much-sought after Dollar doesn’t hold as much appeal anymore.

With the Indian economy booming, there are ample work opportunities for qualified people in India who are valued with huge pay checks, which was not so in the earlier years when success was equivalent with going abroad to ‘the land of opportunities’.

While there are many success stories available about a smooth transition into life abroad, the very same coin has a terrifying
aspect to it. Not all women have a perfect life once they move abroad.

Being isolated in a new country can sometimes lead to them being abused or victimised .

Stories of disillusioned and depressed women who married NRI men and did not find ‘the pot at the end of the rainbow’ are rampant, and this too has led to women today saying NO to NRIs.

After the relaxation in the student visa rules by various countries in the recent years,often many Indian women have studied abroad, have had the practical experience of living abroad and are able to appreciate the benefits and disadvantages of living out of the country. Moreover, foreign lands no longer hold the “charm” associated with it in the yesteryears.

Admittedly satellite television, the internet and various other sources give women a taste of life abroad cathartically.

The attraction of the unknown no longer holds true and there is no mystery about foreign lands and life there, and India is today viewed more as a ‘Land of opportunities’ than any other country in the world.

Undoubtedly, India was relatively protected from the worst effects of the world wide economic downturn, although growth has slowed and for now, many Indian women are choosing to stay right at home, close to where their heart is.

Posted by on August 10, 2012. Filed under SPECIAL. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry