She also urged state governments to implement the compulsory registration of marriages.

The NCW opened the cell after it was nominated as the coordinating agency for dealings with issues related to NRI marriages in April this year.

The NCW has already started the first overseas office at Indian embassy in Britain to act as helpline for abandoned wives and put them in touch with local voluntary agencies.

'We urged that most embassies should keep some space for setting up a branch there. Maybe, that one person could give a phone call on a monthly basis to the women who arrive in the country after marriage to check if they are well,' Vyas said.

Film actress and director Pooja Bhatt, who was present at the event, said: 'In this country, we only teach women about their duties. It is time that parents tell their daughters about their rights too.'