2010 was an eventful year for Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs with several Labour and Social Security agreements signed with foreign countries for protection and betterment of Indian workers and professionals. An equally large number of initiatives were taken for constructive and mutually beneficial engagement with the Indian Diaspora. Some highlights are given below.

BILATERAL SOCIAL SECURITY COOPERATION

 

The Ministry has already signed a bilateral social security agreement with Belgium, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Netherlands. This year, Social Security Agreement has signed with Denmark, Czech Republic, Korea, Hungary and Norway. The Negotiations are underway Sweden, Canada, Australia, Finland, Portugal and Japan.

 

Exploratory talks have been held with US Social Security Administration on the India-US Totalisation Agreement on 19^th and 20^th May, 2010.  Both sides agreed to exchange data. Administrative Arrangements for implementation of the Social Security Agreement between India and France has been singed in Paris on 30^th June, 2010.

 

Bilateral social security agreements protect the interests of expatriate workers on a reciprocal basis by providing for exemption from social security contribution in case of short-term contracts (provided the worker is covered under the home country’s social security system), exportability of pension in case of relocation to the home country or any third country and totalization of the contribution periods pertaining to both countries. Such agreements also make respective companies more competitive in each other’s territory since exemption from social security contribution in respect of their employees substantially reduces costs.

 

BILATERAL LABOUR COOPERATION

 

Protection of emigrants against exploitation and abuse is not possible in the absence of explicit commitment of the Government of the host country. To secure such commitment, India has signed labour agreements with Jordan, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and Oman. MoUs heave signed with Malaysia, Bahrain and with Denmark this year.

 

First meeting of the Joint Working Group under the MoU signed on Labour Mobility Partnership between India and Denmark was held at Copenhagen on 8-9^th June, 2010.  Possibilities of bilateral co-operation in facilitating mobility of workers between the two countries were discussed. First meeting of the Joint Committee between India and Oman under the Labour MoU in the field of manpower between the two countries was held in New Delhi on 24^th and 25^th June, 2010.  Various issues relating to the protection of Indian workers in Oman including standarisation of the work contract were discussed.

 

A delegation from India visited Brussels on 22^nd October, 2010 to have high level dialogue with European Union on signing of Labour Mobility Partnership agreement so that other member States of EU may also sign LMPA.

 

8^th PRAVASI BHARTIYA DIVAS (PBD) CONVENTION, NEW DELHI

 

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) convention is the flagship event of the Ministry organized every year in January since 2003, with a view to connect India to its vast Indian diaspora and bringing their knowledge, expertise and skills on a common platform. The 8th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention was held in New Delhi from 7th to 9th January, 2010. The two day Convention was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 8^th January, 2010 and the valedictory address was delivered by the President. The President also conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award on 14 distinguished PIOs/NRIs. Lord Khalid Hameed CBE DL Hampstead was the Chief Guest.

The event was widely acclaimed as a grand success both for its organizational aspects and its substantive content, as also for the choice of speakers and the topicality of the themes chosen for deliberation at its various sessions. The two pre-conferences seminars on Nano-technology and Property-related issues of overseas Indians drew enthusiastic participation of all stake-holders and came in for appreciation from several quarters. The first meeting of the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council was another highlight of this year’s mega-event.

The Convention had three Plenary Sessions - Diaspora: Role and Expectations, Diaspora: Interests and Concerns & Skills Development; six concurrent sessions - Returning to 9% Growth: Diaspora Connect , Leveraging Knowledge Networks: Global-Ink, Thousands of Fireflies: Diaspora Philanthropy, Diaspora Women in Cross-Cultural Environments, Indians and the Gulf and Future of PBDs and the Road Ahead as well as separate State Sessions. The two-day convention saw a record participation of over 1500 delegates. These included 16 Members of the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council and 8 PIO Ministers, besides 12 Union Ministers and 5 Chief Ministers and other Indian and PIO dignitaries.

 

REGIONAL PRAVASI BHARTIYA DIVAS IN DURBAN

 

The Regional Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD)-Africa was held from 1-2 October, 2010 at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Durban, South Africa. The event was inaugurated on 1st October, 2010 by the Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Shri Vayalar Ravi. The President of South Africa Mr.Jacob Zuma graced the closing session on 2nd October 2010. The theme of the Conference was on ‘India-Africa: Building Bridges.’ This was the 4th regional PBD Convention organized by Government of India outside India. The first such event was held on 24th September, 2007 in New York, the second on 10-11 October, 2008 in Singapore and the third on 19 September, 2009 at The Hague. PBD Africa marked the 150th anniversary of the arrivals of Indians in South Africa and coincided with the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
 

ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF HEADS OF MISSIONS

 

The 5th Annual Conference of the Head of the Missions of GCC Countries, Jorden, Libya, Yemen, Malaysia and Maldives was held in  Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Conference is attended by Heads of Missions of 11 countries, senior Officials from other Ministries including the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and representatives from the major labour sending States such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The Conference would deliberate on various issues and problems relating to overseas Indian workers both at the source and destination points and how the institutional engagement between our Missions and other stakeholders in India can be strengthened for better regulation of Labour Mobility.

 
The Conference included the new initiatives in the Emigration Policy being framed by the Ministry, review of various welfare measures at the Mission level, strengthening Grievance Redressal Mechanism at the Mission level, follow up on the Joint Working Group meetings decisions, pursuant to labour MoUs with five GCC countries etc. Several important decisions taken by the Ministry for the protection and welfare of migrant workers will also be discussed for effective implementation and follow-up.

 

INDIAN COMMUNITY WELFARE FUND (ICWF)

 

The Ministry has set up the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) at the disposal of the Indian Missions in all the Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) countries to meet contingency expenditure in connection with the activities related to welfare of the workers in distress in the host countries. The Fund will, inter-alia, provide services - i) Boarding and lodging for distressed OIs in Household/domestic sectors and unskilled workers; ii) expenditure on incidental to and Airlifting of mortal remains to Indian or local cremation/burial of the deceased iii) Emergency medical care/air passage to the OIs in need) to the emigrants on a means tested basis.

 

This year it was decided that the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) will be extended to all the Missions around the world. The ICWF scheme is found very useful by the Indian Missions in mitigating the suffering of Indians, therefore, it has been decided that this scheme will extend to all the Missions. He said the fund which was originally made for all the Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries has been extended to 48 countries.

 

The Union Cabinet approved setting up the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) in the Indian Missions in 17 countries to meet contingency expenditure incurred by them for carrying out various onsite welfare activities for overseas Indian citizens who are in distress. The proposed Fund (ICWF) is aimed at providing the following services: (i) Boarding and lodging for distressed overseas Indian workers in Household/domestic sectors and unskilled labourers; (ii) Extending emergency medical care to the overseas Indians in need; (iii) Providing air passage to stranded overseas Indians in need; (iv) Providing initial legal assistance to the overseas Indians in deserving cases, (v) Expenditure on incidentals and for airlifting the mortal remains to India or local cremation/burial of the deceased overseas Indian in such cases where a sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so as per the contract and the family is unable to meet the cost.

 

3^rd CONSULTATION MEETING WITH STATE GOVERNMENTS

The 3rd Consultation Meeting with State Governments on Emigration Management held in New Delhi.  The two-day consultation meeting is being organized to discuss various emigration and Diaspora related matters and how best the Ministry can partner with the State Governments to provide required support and guidance in effectively addressing the concerns of Overseas Indians. This meeting is an important initiative of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) for providing a platform for the State Governments to make suggestions and recommendations to the Government of India in the matter of emigration and overseas Indians.  Issues like  Promotion of overseas employment opportunities by the State Governments, creating facilities for Skill Up gradation and Pre-departure Orientation / Training for potential emigrants workers, awareness Campaign by State Governments in partnership with MOIA, development of a Joint Training Module on legal migration management for all the stakeholders, quick redressal of property related grievances of NRIs, states co-operation regarding issue of ‘Nativity certificate’ for grant of OCI were focused during the meeting.

 

KNOW INDIA PROGRAMME

 

A group of 28 Indian Diaspora youth from 9 countries were the participants of 15^th Know India Programme (KIP), organized by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in partnership with States of Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. Know India Programme of the Ministry is a three-week orientation programme for Diaspora youth conducted with a view to promote awareness on different facets of life in India and the progress made by the country in various fields e.g. economic, industrial, education, Science & Technology, Communication & Information Technology, culture, etc. and face –to-face with the culture and tradition s in the field of their ancestors. These are conducted in partnership with one or two State Governments. The participants, PIOs in the age group of 18-26 years, are selected based on recommendations received from Heads of Indian Missions/Posts abroad. Selected participants are provided with full hospitality in India during the duration of the programme. 15^th Know India Programme was held from 10^th to 26^th September, 2010. 28 participants from 9 countries participated.  A two week programme to Assam and Meghalaya was arranged to acquaint the PIO students about culture followed by a visit to Delhi.

 

PKM