Lok Sabha Question No. 1716 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Registration of Workers
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: K. C. VENUGOPAL

- 1716.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1716 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2017

## REGISTRATION OF WORKERS

- SHRI    K.C. VENUGOPAL:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to introduce online registration facilities for Indian citizens working abroad, particularly in Gulf region and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  has  received  any  proposal  in  this regard and if so, the action taken thereon;
- (c) whether the Government is ready to provide health insurance to those people who are working abroad; and
- (d)
- if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) & (b) No, there is no such proposal under consideration of the Government  nor  has  the  Government  received  any  such  proposal. However, the data of the Indian workers, holding Emigration Check Required (ECR) category passport, emigrating for  employment purpose  to  any  of  the  18  notified  ECR  countries  is  captured  in  a digital  system  introduced  by  the  Ministry  since  2014,  called  eMigrate  system.  e-Migrate  provides  the  Ministry  a  comprehensive, online  database  of  emigrants.  The  System  makes  the  emigration process faster, transparent and allows online authentication/ verification  of  the  emigrants,  foreign  employers  and  registered recruiting agents.
- (c) & (d) There  is  already  a  mandatory  Insurance  and  medical cover under Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) for all Emigration Check  Required  (ECR)  passport  holding  Indian  workers  emigrating

with  Emigration  Clearance  to      18  notified  ECR  countries  for overseas employment. On 12.07.2017 the Scheme has been amended to extend the coverage and make it more simple for claim settlement.  Some  of  the  salient  features  and  benefits  under  the PBBY 2017 are as under:

- (i) Maximum  sum  for  which  insured  under  the  Scheme  is Rs.10.00 lakhs in the event of accidental death or permanent disability leading to loss of employment while in employment abroad, irrespective of change of employer or location of insured person (country of employment, India or third country).
- (ii) Certification of accidental death or permanent disability by Indian Missions and Posts abroad shall be accepted by the insurance companies. Certification will be issued by concerned  Protector  of  Emigrants  (PoE),  if  the  accidental death or permanent disability happens in India.
- (iii) Medical  insurance  cover  including  injuries  / sickness  / ailment / diseases enhanced from Rs.75,000/to Rs.1,00,000/- (up to Rs. 50,000 per hospitalization)
- (iv) Repatriation cover for medically unfit/premature termination of  employment:  Actual  one-way  economy  class  air  fare  to the nearest international airport in India.
- (v) Family Hospitalization in India is Rs. 50,000/-
- (vi) Maternity benefit to women  emigrants enhanced from Rs.25,000/-to Rs. 35,000/-
- (vii) Return economy class air fare to the nearest international airport attendant in case of emigrant's accidental death or permanent disability.
- (viii) Legal expenses on litigation related to emigrant's overseas employment enhanced from Rs.30,000/- to Rs. 45,000/-
- (ix) Provision for On-line renewal of PBBY policy introduced.

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