A Ministry of External Affairs delegation led by Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, IFS, Secretary (CPV&OIA) visited Hyderabad and met Smt Shanthi Kumari, IAS, Chief Secretary, Telangana State today at BRKR Bhawan, Hyderabad. The visit was part of Ministry of External Affairs’ outreach with State Governments to promote safe and legal migration. Smt Rani Kumidini, IAS, Special Secretary (LET&F), Shri Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Principal Secretary (IT and Industries), Shri Anjani Kumar, IPS, DGP, Telangana State Police and Dr. Vishnu Vardhan Reddy, Special Secretary and CEO, TOMCOM participated in the meeting. The MEA delegation included Shri Bramha Kumar, Joint Secretary (OE) & Protector General of Emigrants (PGE), Regional Passport Officer, Hyderabad, Protector of Emigrants, Hyderabad and other senior officials of Ministry of External Affairs.

 

The deliberations covered matters related to MEA’s citizen-centric policies with whole of country approach with special focus on addressing NRI issues and tapping overseas employment opportunities. Programmes and initiatives undertaken by the State government through Telangana Overseas Manpower Company Ltd (TOMCOM) related to skilling and up-skilling of overseas job seekers and ongoing coordination between state government and MEA for welfare and protection of migrant workers was also underlined.

Secretary (CPV and OIA) highlighted the emerging trends in overseas employment opportunities for Indian youth and the need for imparting skill training as per global standards through the collective efforts of all stakeholders. He touched upon expansion of Pre Departure Orientation Training Facilities (PDOT) in the State and the role of State agencies like TOMCOM in implementing the various Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPA) being signed by Government of India with partner countries.

 

As part of the MEA-State Outreach Programme, Secretary (CPV & OIA) and DGP later co-chaired an “Awareness Session on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration: Vantage Point of Police & Law Enforcement” organised by Telangana State Police in collaboration with TOMCOM and International Organisation for Migration (IOM). The awareness session was attended by Shri C V Anand, IPS, CP, Hyderabad, Shri DS Chauhan, CP Rachakonda, senior police officers, district police officials as well as recruiting agents. 

Information on Emigration Act 1983, modus operandi of illegal agents, measures to mitigate exploitation of vulnerable migrants and curb the activities of illegal recruitment agents were discussed during the session. Secretary (CPV&OIA) emphasised the importance of educating emigrants on the nuances of the emigration cycle on the lines of Ministry’s initiative ‘Surakshit Jaaye Prasikshit Jaaye – Go Safe, Go Trained’.

 

A sizeable skilled workforce from Telangana is living in the Gulf countries. MEA has been in regular touch with Telangana government to address issues related to their welfare and protection. In line with the campaign of Surakshit Jaaye – Prasikshit Jaaye, the Ministry of External Affairs will continue to engage with the State government to promote safe and legal migration.

 

 

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