CHANDIGARH: With a view to rehabilitating abandoned wives of NRIs from Punjab, the Centre will extend financial aid to them.

A state government release said the aid will be provided to them through registered women's organisations, associations of non-resident Indians and non-government organisations (NGOs).

The prime objective of this scheme is to extend financial support to the deserted wives so that they could fight a legal battle for their rights.

The NRI wives who were deserted within the five years of their marriage and those who have initiated legal divorce proceedings against husbands would be given initial amount of USD 1,000 for expenses incurred on legal formalities.