The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has taken the following steps for
the welfare of Indians working in different Gulf Countries:
1.
A 24x7 toll-free
helpline viz. Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) has been set up in Delhi
to enable emigrants/ prospective emigrants to seek information and file
complaints against Recruiting Agents/ Foreign Employers.
2.
Migration Resource
Centres (MRCs) at Cochin and Hyderabad.
3.
The
Ministry undertakes vigorous Awareness Campaign through the print and
electronic media to educate and sensitize potential emigrant workers about the
legal emigration process and hazards of illegal emigration.
4.
Opening of Indian
Workers Resource Centre in host countries to serve as a one stop service outlet
for the information and assistance needs of emigrants. An Indian Workers
Resource Centre (IWRC) has been established at Dubai, UAE.
5.
Indian Community
Welfare Fund (ICWF) has been established in all the Indian Missions for on-site
welfare of emigrants. It provides boarding and lodging for distressed overseas
Indian workers in household domestic sectors and unskilled labourers, extending
emergency medical care to the Overseas Indian in need, providing air passage to
stranded Overseas Indians in need, providing initial legal assistance to the
Overseas Indian in deserving cases, expenditure on incidentals and for
airlifting the mortal remains to India or local cremation/burial of the
deceased Overseas Indian in such cases where the sponsor is unable or unwilling
to do so as per the contract and the family is unable to meet the cost,
providing the payment of penalties in respect of Indian nationals for illegal
stay in the host country where prime facie the worker is not at fault,
providing the payment of small fines/penalties for the release of Indian
nationals in jail/detention centre; etc.
6.
Mandatory Insurance under Pravasi
Bhartiya Bima Yojana (PBBY), which covers for  death, permanent disability and
medical insurance cover of any Indian emigrant who goes abroad for employment
purpose after obtaining emigration clearance from the concerned Protector of
Emigration (POE).
7.
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA)
has introduced Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana (MGPSY) for the Overseas
Indian working having Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports in India and
ECR countries. The Government contribution under MGPSY is provided in addition
to the subscriber’s contribution and is available for a maximum period of five
years or for the period of overseas employment of the worker, whichever is
less. This scheme provides life insurance, pension and resettlement on return.
Country-wise data of the Indians working in Gulf
Countries are not maintained by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs. However the numbers of
Emigration Clearances granted to workers in Gulf Countries (from 2011 to 2014)
are as under:
|
Country
|
No.
of Emigration clearances granted
|
|
 Bahrain
|
59,291
|
|
 Kuwait
|
2,17,061
|
|
 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [KSA]
|
11,98,823
|
|
 Oman
|
2,51,717
|
|
 Qatar
|
2,28,259
|
|
 United Arab Emirates [UAE]
|
6,39,459
|
State-wise data of the Indians working in
Gulf Countries are not maintained by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.
However, the number of state- wise Emigration Clearance granted for working in
Gulf Countries is at Annexure.
This Information was given by the Minister of state in the
Ministry of External Affairs and Overseas Indian Affairs Gen. (Retd.) Dr. V. K.
Singh in Rajya Sabha today.
YSK/ Uma
*****