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The Indian government's decision to offer free legal aid and counselling to women who are the victims of sham marriages seems to us a good first step toward solving a major world problem.
After all, it was The Province's series of award-winning stories that helped shine the spotlight on the plight of "abandoned brides" -- and the practice of unscrupulous Indian men marrying for dowries or as means of gaining entry into Canada and other western countries.
The next step, of course, is to tackle the abuse by reforming Canada's own immigration system.
One suggestion is that there be a three-year waiting period, during which couples must live together, before foreign spouses can get permanent-residency status.
But the issue may have to be tackled on a number of fronts before it can be said to have been truly solved.
Doing nothing to end this evil is simply not an option.
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