Lok Sabha Question No. 668 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Death of Indians Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Balashowry Vallabbhaneni

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.668 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## DEATH OF INDIANS ABROAD

## 668.     SHRI BALASHOWRY VALLABHANENI:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether hundreds of people from Andhra Pradesh went to Gulf countries for work reportedly  died  in  the  last  three  years  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether the situation is alarming in countries like Saudi Arabia where more than 450  people  belonging  to  AP  died  in  the  last  three  years  and  if  so,  the  details thereof and the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government to protect and save Indian Citizens in Gulf countries?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## [SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]

(a) & (b) A compilation showing the total number of deaths of people from Andhra Pradesh  for  each  of  the  Gulf  countries  during  the  last  three  years  is  provided  in Annexure.  A  large  number  of  deaths  of  Indian  nationals  in  the  Gulf  countries  can  be attributed to natural causes, medical illnesses etc. Some deaths are also reported due to suicides, accidents at work sites and road accidents.

- (c) The Ministry of External Affairs and our Missions/Posts in the Gulf, accord high priority  to  the  welfare  and  well  being  of  Indian  nationals  especially  of  Indian  workers who constitute a large proportion of expatriate Indians in the region.

In order to prevent workers' deaths such as suicides, road accidents etc. in Gulf countries,  awareness  campaigns  are  conducted  by  the  Missions/Posts  through  labour camps organised by Pravasi Bharatiya Seva Kendras (PBSK) in collaboration with the Indian  Missions/Posts.  Indian  officials  work  proactively  to  alleviate  and  resolve  the difficulties being faced by Indian workers such as excessive working hours, inadequacy of medical facilities, excessive exposure to heat and sun stroke etc. Anyone having any difficulty  can  approach  Community  Welfare  Wing  in  getting  his  problems  addressed promptly.

In Gulf countries where there are large numbers of Indian workers, our Missions and Posts have specialized Community Welfare Wings and Labour Wings. In addition, the Government has launched an online portal called 'MADAD' for addressing the grievances of Indian nationals abroad. The MADAD  Portal is regularly monitored in our Missions/Posts  at  various  levels,  thus  giving  high  priority  to  grievances  of  Indian nationals.

Annexure

| S. No.   | Name of Country      |   Number of Indians from Andhra Pradesh who died in Gulf countries in last three years |
|----------|----------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.       | Bahrain              |                                                                                     78 |
| 2.       | Kuwait               |                                                                                    488 |
| 3.       | Oman                 |                                                                                    153 |
| 4.       | Qatar                |                                                                                    108 |
| 5.       | Saudi Arabia         |                                                                                    478 |
| 6.       | United Arab Emirates |                                                                                    351 |
|          | Total                |                                                                                   1656 |

***