Year-end Review 2014

 

 

 

·        The Ministry has launched a software module for Transportation of Mortal Remains (TMR) of Indian Workers in Emigration Check Required (ECR) Countries. This software module can be accessed from the website of the Ministry www.moia.gov.in and www.e-migrate.gov.in.

·        The Ministry, in coordination with other ministries/agencies prepared an action plan for facilitating the departure of the stranded Indians in Iraq, Libya to their respective destination. Repatriation of stranded Indian nationals in Iraq was started in the month of July, 2014 and continued during August, 2014. A total of 6,977 workers have been evacuated from Iraq and 3,200 workers have been evacuated from Libya.

·        From 1^st April to 31^st November 2014, Emigration clearance was granted to 497424 emigrants going for overseas employment to 18 Emigration Check Required countries. 

·        Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) held two Diaspora Engagement Meets in 2014 one in Manama, Bahrain and other in London, United Kingdom

·        OIFC signed four MoUs - two with Bahrain and two with United Kingdom.

·        UP has become Partner State of OIFC.

·        Plan Scheme on Skill Development for overseas employment was introduced during this year. Seven states namely Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Odisha, Punjab and Tamil Nadu have been identified for implementation of the Plan Scheme.

·        One Social Security Agreement with Australia has been signed on 18^th November, 2014 in Canberra (Australia)

·        Fresh registration certificate were issued to 24 Recruiting Agents under the Emigration Act, 1983,

·        Emigration clearance process had been completely computerized. Process of ISO certification of all 10 offices of Protector of Emigrants is under way.

·        Ministry of Overseas India Affairs has rolled out eMigrate project in all 10 POE offices in last six months in a phased manner. eMigrate is a comprehensive  on-line  web-based system covering entire spectrum of emigration ecosystem, i.e.,  Emigrants, MOIA,  Indian Mission, OWRC, Recruiting Agents and Foreign Employers. Till date more than 1.90 lakh Emigration Clearances have been granted under eMigrate system. 

 

DIASPORA SERVICES 

            The Diaspora Services Division deals with all matters relating to Overseas Indians comprising Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) and Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizenship of India matters, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards, Scholarships to NRI/PIO students in India and new initiatives to promote interaction of overseas Indians with India in tourism, media, youth affairs, education, culture among other areas.

 

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)

            To connect India to its vast overseas diaspora and bring their knowledge, expertise and skills on a common platform, the PBD Convention – the annual flagship event of MOIA is organized from 7^th-9^th January every year since 2003.

            Twelve PBDs have been held earlier in various places of India so far since 2013.

            The 12^thedition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention was held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi in January, 2014 with the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports as the Partner Ministry.  The theme was ‘Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Aacross Generations’. The 13^th edition of PBD being held at Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 7 January, 2015, coinciding with the 100^th Anniversary of return of the Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India.

 

Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD)

            This Ministry organizes Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) to engage with the Indian diaspora who are unable to attend annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in India.  So far, 8 successful RPBD have been held at New York, Singapore, The Hague, Durban, Toronto, Mauritius, Sydney and London respectively eliciting enthusiastic support from the Indian diaspora and the local Government. 8^th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) Convention was organized in London, in October, 2014.  Compared with the past several RPBDs, RPBD London marked a significant and positive departure in attendance and the variety of subjects on which the Diaspora was engaged. The Government’s initiatives – Mission to Clean Ganga, Smart Cities, Skill Development, Solid Waste Management and overall infrastructure development were also discussed. RPBD London has set the stage for enhancing the engagement to renew partnership with the Diaspora.

 

Know India Programme (KIP) 

            The objective of the Ministry's Know India Programme is to help familiarize Indian Diaspora youth, in the age group of 18-26 years, project the developments and achievements made by the country and strengthening their bonds with their homeland.  KIP provides a unique forum for students and young professionals of Indian origin to visit India, share their views, expectations and experiences and to know contemporary India. The Ministry has conducted 29 editions of KIPs so far and a total of 903 overseas Indian youth participated in these programmes. The 30^th KIP was held in 2014. The participants are selected based on nominations received from Indian Missions/Posts abroad. They are provided hospitality and reimbursed 90% of their economy class return airfare from their respective countries to India.

 

Study India Programme (SIP)

            Like KIP, Study India Programme (SIP) connects with the youth of Indian diaspora through educational institutions. Its enables Overseas Indian youth to undergo short term courses in an Indian University to familiarize them with the history, heritage, art, culture, socio-political, economic developments etc. of India. The focus of the programme is on academic orientation and research. Cost of boarding, lodging, local transportation, course fee during the programme and 90% of the cost of air-ticket by economy class is borne by Govt. of India. Gratis Visas by Indian Missions are granted to the participants.

While this University the first (SIP) was organized in October, 2012 in Symbiosis University, Pune, Maharashtra with participation of 9 youths of Indian origin from four countries like Trinidad & Tobago, Malaysia, Fiji and South Africa. Conducted 2^nd SIP in November, 2013, 14 youths of Indian origin.

 

Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC)

            Launched in 2006-07 the 'Scholarship Programme for Diaspora Children (SPDC)' grants 100 scholarships upto US$ 4000 per annum to PIO and NRI students for undergraduate courses. The scheme is being implemented by Educational Consultants India Limited (Ed. CIL), a Government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The scheme is open to NRIs / PIOs/OCIs from 40 countries. A total of 760 candidates have availed the scholarship since the inception of the scheme.

            SPDC has been modified to do away with the "Common Entrance Test (CET)" for selecting PIO/OCI and NRI students for award of scholarships.

 

Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) Card Scheme

            The Scheme provides for issue of OCI documents consisting of OCI registration certificate and universal visa sticker to PIOs. Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed merger of PIO card and OCI card schemes. A Bill is likely to be introduced in Parliament.

 

Voting Rights for NRIs

            As per the electoral roll data 2014 published by the Election Commission of India, the total number of overseas Indian electors registered is 11,846.

 

Tracing the Roots

            The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs is running a scheme since October 2008 known as "Tracing the Roots" to facilitate PIOs in tracing their roots in India.

 

            Scheme for Legal/ Financial Assistance to Indian Women Deserted / Divorced by their NRI Husbands

            Issues related to desertion of Indian women by their overseas spouses are complex and sensitive. They also fall within the purview of private international law. To address this issue Ministry is creating awareness amongst prospective brides and their families regarding their rights and responsibilities and the safeguards to be adopted while entering into matrimonial alliances with grooms residing overseas.

 

Migration Management

 

Social Security Agreements (SSAs)

            India has signed 20 SSAs with 18 countries. These Agreements provide for avoidance of payment of double social security contribution by Indian workers, totalization of contribution and exportability of benefits.

 

Human Resource Mobility Partnership (HRMP)

            A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Human Resource Mobility partnership has been signed with Denmark. Negotiation on HRMP with the Netherlands has been concluded and it will be signed after the approval of PMO

 

India-EU Mobility Partnership:

            An International conference on India-EU partnership in mobility was organized by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs in New Delhi from 21-23 February, 2009 to facilitate legal migration, combat irregular migration and proactively pursue bilateral and multilateral cooperation for maximizing benefits and minimizing risks from migration. To take the official engagement forward, EU has proposed a Common   Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM) with India. The draft CAMM is under examination in consultation with Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion and Department of Commerce.

 

Major activities during 2014

            An Indian delegation visited Tokyo (Japan) from 21-23 April, 2014 for the 5^th round of negotiation to finalize the Forms and procedure for implementation of Social Security Agreement between India and Japan.

Social Security Agreements between India and Sweden; and between India and Finland came into force with effect from 1^st August, 2014. While it came into force with effect from 1^st September, 2014 between India and the Czech Republic.

Delegations from Japan, Norweg, Canada and Quebec visited India in 2014regarding social security issue.

Social Security Agreement between India and Australia was signed on 18 November, 2014 in Canberra (Australia).

 

India Centre for Migration

            India Centre for Migration (ICM) was set up as the Centre for Promotion of Overseas Employment (CPOE) and later rechristened as the Indian Council for Overseas Employment (ICOE). ICM is a ‘not for profit’ society established by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) in July, 2008 to serve as a “think tank” on all matters relating to international migration.

The India – EU II Project (Developing Evidence-based Management and Operations (DEMO) in the India-EU Migration Partnership) is currently under implementation. ICM organised a national workshop on international migration trade: Linkages & implications for India – EU Migrate in December, 2014 as part of the Project.

 

Annual Conference of the Heads of Missions (HoMs)

            The 8^th Annual Conference of the Heads of Missions of Emigration Check Required countries was held on 10^th January, 2014 in New Delhi.

 

Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana

            The Ministry had introduced a Pension and Life Insurance Fund scheme called “Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana (MGPSY) for Overseas Indian workers having Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports. Launched in UAE on 27^th October, 2013 to encourage and enable overseas Indian workers and by giving government contribution to save for their Return and Resettlement (R&R), save for their old age, the scheme obtains a Life Insurance cover against natural death during the period of coverage.

 

e-Migrate Project

            The Ministry is implementing a comprehensive e-governance project on migration “e-Migrate” which aims to transform emigration into a simple, transparent, orderly and humane process. The Project is aimed at improving the quality of services to emigrant workers and will help reduce the access cost of service.

 

Bilateral Memoranda of Understanding on Labour

            Since the largest number of Indian expatriates are working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, an Agreement on Labour Co-operation for Domestic Service Workers (DSWs) Recruitment between the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and the Ministry of Labour of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has been signed on 2^nd January, 2014. The Agreement paves the way for a comprehensive MOU on manpower.

 

Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)

            Overseas Indian Workers are estimated at over 6 million. The Indian Community Welfare Fund was set up in the year 2009 and is applicable to all Indian missions. The fund aims to provide the following services on means tested basis in deserving cases:

·        Boarding and lodging for distressed Overseas Indian workers in Household / domestic sectors and unskilled labourers;

·        Extending emergency medical care to the Overseas Indians in need;

·        Providing air passage to stranded Overseas Indians in need;

·        Providing initial legal assistance to the Overseas Indians in deserving cases;

·        Expenditure on incidentals and for airlifting the mortal remains to India or local cremation/burial of the deceased Overseas Indians 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 prima facie the worker is not at fault;

·        Providing the payment of small fines/penalties for the release of Indian nationals in jail/detention centre;

·        Providing support to local Overseas Indian Associations to establish Overseas Indian Community Centers in countries that have population of  Overseas Indians exceeding 1,00,000; and

·        Providing support to start and run overseas Indian Community-based student welfare centers in Countries that have more than 20,000 Indian students’ presence.

The funds are also available for any other purpose considered necessary with   prior approval of the Ministry. The Ministry is in the process of further amending the ICWF guidelines keeping in view the needs of the Missions.

 

Information Dissemination on Legal Migration

            The intending emigrants face the difficulty in accessing authentic and timely information relating to overseas employment, role of Recruiting Agencies and emigration procedures etc.  Non-availability of such information makes the emigrants vulnerable to exploitation.

Ministry launched the Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) to provide information and assistance to intending emigrants, overseas workers as well as their family members relating to all aspects of overseas employment.  The OWRC is operating round the clock a toll free helpline (1800 11 3090) to provide need-based information to emigrants and their families. Helpline from anywhere in the world at +91-11-40503090 in eleven languages is also available. To extend the services to support the Indian emigrants, an international toll-free line (8 000 911 913) has been established for calls from UAE. The total calls attended during 2014 (upto 8^th December, 2014) is 1,27,216.

 

Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra (PBK)

            To commemorate the trials and tribulations as well as the subsequent evolution and achievements of the Indian Diaspora, Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra (PBK) is being established at Chankayapuri, New Delhi, at an estimated cost of Rs.94 crore. The Kendra, over time, is expected to become the focal point for social, cultural and economic interaction with and among all Overseas Indians. It will also serve as a research and documentation centre and host a permanent exhibition.

The project started in, 2011, It is likely to be completed by early 2015. The Ministry is in the process of establishing a society which will be responsible for the day to day functioning of the Kendra.

 

Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians (PMGAC-OI)

            The Ministry has constituted the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of People of Indian Origin (PMGAC-OI) to draw upon the experience and knowledge of eminent people of Indian origin in diverse fields from across the world.  The Council is chaired by the Prime Minister.  The advice of the council is recommendatory in nature and serves as a valuable input for policy formulation and programme planning.

            Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh presided over the fifth meeting of the Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indian on January 8, 2014 at New Delhi.

 

Protector General of Emigrants (PGE)

 

            Operational matters relating to emigration, the provision of emigration services to emigrants and the enforcement of Emigration Act, 1983 are under the Protector General of Emigrants (PGE). The PGE is the statutory authority under the Emigration Act who is responsible for the welfare and protection of emigrant workers. He also oversees the ten field offices of the Protectors of Emigrants.

 

Registration of Recruiting Agents

            The Emigration Act, 1983 (Section 10) requires that those who wish to recruit Indian citizens for employment abroad shall register themselves with the registering authority, i.e. the Protector General of Emigration (PGE). As on 30-10-2014, there were 1347 existing recruiting agents.

 

Trends in Emigration

            There are about five million overseas Indian workers all over the world, more than 90% of whom are in the Gulf countries and South East Asia. There are 10 POE Offices working in the country including Rae Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), which was inaugurated on 15^th May, 2013. POE, Office at Guwahati will be operationalize as soon as the Government of Assam provides office space.

 

Enforcement and Grievance Redressal

            During the last three years, 85 Registration Certificates were suspended and 77 Registration Certificate had been cancelled. Prosecution sanctions were issued in 05 and 08 cases in 2013 and 2014 respectively based on police reports. Prosecution sanction from the Central Government is not required if the complaint against the unregistered agent is by an emigrant/intending emigrant or his relatives. 510 foreign employers have been blacklisted till date.

 

Simplification of Procedures

            Emigration clearance process had been computerized. During the year one POE office Kolkata, was declared ISO certified Six POE offices at Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, Hyderabad, Cochin and Chandigarh have already been ISO certified. Permission has been granted for ISO certificates for the office of Jaipur, Trivandrum and Rae Bareilly during the current year.

 

Protection and Welfare of Emigrants

            Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting with Kuwait and Oman for welfare and safeguarding the interest of emigrants were held during the year 2014.

A total of 6977 Workers from Iraq and 3200 Workers from Libya have been evacuated during 2014.

 

The Swarnapravas Yojana – New Plan Scheme

            The Plan scheme of MOIA,  namely the Swarnapravas Yojana will adhere to the broad objectives of skill development in India, as envisioned by the National Skill Development Policy 2009 and achieve the target of training 5 Million people by 2022 as laid down under this policy. The total project cost envisaged is Rs137 crore. A new budget head for the scheme has been introduced with a provision of Rs.20 crore for 2014-15.

            The main objective is to position India as a preferred source country for skilled and trained workers in select sectors that face skill shortages in the international labour market, and in which India enjoys competitive advantage.

            While emigration to other countries occurs from all parts of India, ten major states have been identified as origin of migrant workers. These are Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. These ten states will be covered under the Swarnapravas Yojana during the 12^thPlan period.

 

AT/YSkataria/Uma/yearender2014