SHAMLI: Salma Khatoon, a 35-year-old resident of Kairana, has endured 15 years of hardships ever since she got married to a Pakistani national Shahbaz Ali, a resident of Rawalpindi, on the advice of her aunt, who had also got married in Pakistan decades ago.However, Salmas married life took a tumultuous turn just a month after the June 2008 wedding with her husband starting to mistreat her.Salma said Shahbaz left for South Africa in 2011, leaving her and their son Abdul Rafe (just two at that time) to fend for themselves in Pakistan. Her in-laws also refused to accommodate her.Salma was an Indian citizen while her son was a Pakistani. With some help from her aunt, Salma returned to India with her son in 2013. For two years she worked hard washing dishes in her hometown to make ends meet. In 2015, she returned to Pakistan with just Rs 3,000 to secure an Identity Card for her son. After a 18-month struggle, Pakistani authorities issued her sons identity card and she returned to India soon after.Salma now has to go to Pakistan again with her son as the ID needs to be renewed. As Abdul is still a minor, he cannot get Indian citizenship, though she knows even after attaining 18 years of age, getting Indian citizenship will be a challenging task. Abdul studies in an English medium school that charges a monthly fee of Rs 900 and wants to become an IAS officer. He said, I study hard to keep my mother happy and, when I grow up, I will be her support. Kairana resident Haji Mohammad Afzal said that to make matters worse, Salma cannot remarry as her first husband has not divorced her. For the last couple of years, Salma has increased her working hours – she also takes up dishwashing jobs at weddings and often returns home in the early hours of the morning. He added that she comes from a poor family of labourers and has an old mother and her brothers family to support. Salma said, The cost to travel to Pakistan and sustain myself there for a month will come at a huge cost. So, I leave no opportunity to earn more. An officer at the local intelligence unit (LIU) said, Salma can apply for Indian citizenship for her son, but he will get it only after he turns 18. She cannot remarry as she hasnt been divorced. The officer further added, She is living here with her child and following all the rules, although she has to go to Pakistan to renew her sons documents. She also remains in touch with the offices concerned in India.

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