This year, I along with my friends had decided to go on Europe tour. Accordingly we approached Kesari Tours Pune. While submitting visa application, this travel agency asked for the NOC from my husband since I was to travel without him. I found it strange as well as insulting and decided to take up the matter. I felt it is an insult to the women’s dignity and the freedom and such demand is not possible in today’s civilized and democratic world and certainly not from any democratic country.
I initially raised the issue with the travel agent, however their answer was ”It is a requirement of the embassy.” Obviously I asked them whether the rule is same for my husband. They said, No, this rule is only for woman.Then I decided to fight against this issue.
Thereafter, I checked on the internet as regards the visa documents required by embassy for Schengen Visa and found that there was no such requirement specified.
After studying the embassy guidelines, I directly wrote to the Italian Embassy where I was to enter for the European tour. To my happiness their reply was very positive stating there is no such requirement so long as the woman is financially independent.
Surprisingly I was so nervous to know that neither’ the educated ladies’ who were working in Kesari Office, felt that this is’an injustice’ nor all those who submitted this type of NOC to the traveler all the time. They thought, ’What is a big issue?’