The aim of this consultation meeting is to take this engagement of the States to the next level – Vayalar Ravi

Published on September 30, 2011 by News Desk · 1 Comment

INVC,,

Delhi,,

The two-day 4th Consultation Meeting with State Government to discuss various emigration and Diaspora related issues began here today. Inaugurating the function, Shri Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs the Minister said that three new Protector of Emigrants offices in the States of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and in Guwahati for the North-Eastern States will be opened. He also said that a scheme will be launched to provide resettlement expenses, insurance cover and pension provisions for emigrant Indian workers.

He said that State Governments are very important stakeholders in effort to connect with the Overseas Indians, and to jointly work for the welfare of workers abroad. He said that the aim of this consultation meeting is to take this engagement of the States to the next level. He said that many states are setting up nodal departments and cells to give attention to workers and many of them have also appointed nodal civil and police officers to give focused attention to the needs of Overseas Indians hailing from their states. He called upon the State Governments to carry out a mass awareness campaign in the interest of the Indian workers.

Shri. Ravi said that the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has taken many steps to help Indian workers. He said that the Ministry has formulated a concept of Pravasi Bharatiya Bhawans in the States. These Bhawans would provide, under a common roof, Migration Resource Centre, POE offices, counselling and pre-departure orientation and a space for Pravasi Associations. The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) was established in some Indian Missions and it will be further extended to all the Indian Missions abroad. Missions are making use of this Fund to provide immediate relief to Indian workers in need and distress. He said that the Overseas Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) at New Delhi provides a 24×7 helpline and walk-in counselling centre to handle workers problems. This Centre uses eight Indian languages and has a toll-free number. The IWRC has also been established at Dubai, which provides similar services to the Indian workers. The Ministry also has launched a scheme of skill development for the North-East Region through Indian Council of Overseas Employment. Under this scheme youth would be provided training in the health-care, hospitality and automation sectors.

The Minister said that the Ministry is also bringing changes to the legislative framework through the Emigration Management Bill, which is in the final stages of Government approval. This Bill would provide for greater transparency and ensure protection and welfare of Indian workers. He said that one of the major problems being faced by Indian workers in the ECR countries is that their contract conditions like their wages, service conditions and matter of employment are changed when they land in these countries. In order to overcome this problem, the Ministry is initiating with the UAE Ministry of Labour a web-based attestation system of employment contracts in the Indian missions at Abu Dhabi and Dubai. This procedure would help India to enforce the contracts conditions. The Indian missions in these countries have been directed to establish similar process to attest the employment contracts, implement model employment contract, fix reference medium wages and set up IWRC in the missions. The Indian missions in Oman and Jordan have come forward to implement these reforms. To get the support of the Government in ECR countries for the welfare and security of Indian workers, the Ministry has been pursuing bi-lateral labour agreement with them. And the agreements with Bahrain, Jordan, Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar and Oman have been concluded.