Lok Sabha Question No. 1756 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-26
Subject: Closure of Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: VINOD KUMAR BOIANAPALLI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESION NO.1756

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.07.2017

## CLOSURE OF MAHATMA GANDHI PRAVASI SURAKSHA YOJANA

1756. SHRI B. VINOD KUMAR:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  closed  the  Mahatma  Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana(MGPSY) which was set up to address the  social  security-related  issues  of  the  Emigration  Check Required (ECR)-category workers going abroad for employment to ECR countries; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b) Yes. The Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Surakhsha Yojana did not get an encouraging response from Indian emigrant workers for a variety of reasons  including its voluntary nature, difficulty in payment  of  subscriptions  from  NRI  accounts,  limited  insurance cover,  and  the  restricted  regulatory  environment  in  destination countries  where  the  scheme  was  to  be  rolled  out.  The  Scheme stands closed with approval of the Cabinet with effect from April 1, 2017.

However, 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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