Lok Sabha Question No. 72 (STARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Harassment of Youth Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sumedhanand Saraswati

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.72 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## HARASSMENT OF YOUTH ABROAD

## † *72. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  youth  working abroad have to face harassment due to lack of information of the rules and regulations of that Country or due to some other reasons;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  steps  taken  by  the Indian Embassy to provide immediate assistance to them;
- (c) whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  a  large  number  of Indians are languishing in jails of  various counties including the Gulf Countries;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, country-wise; and
- (e) the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  ensure release of such prisoners and bring them back to the country?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

*****

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *72 REGARDING 'HARASSMENT OF YOUTH ABROD' FOR ANSWER ON 26.06.2019

Given  the large number  of  Indian youth who  go  abroad  for work, the Government  is  aware  that  some  of  them  have  to  face  harassment  due  to  lack  of familiarity with the rules and regulations of that country or due to some other reasons.

The well being and welfare of Indians abroad is among the top priorities for the Government of India. Indian Missions and Posts advise Indians living abroad to register themselves with their Consular and Community Welfare Sections.  Missions and Posts also  widely  disseminate  salient  information  on  various  issues,  including  information related to the host countries, through website, social media, etc. with a view to enhance the awareness of Indian nationals abroad.

Comprehensive  Pre-Departure  Orientation  Training  (PDOT)  which  has  been started on a voluntary basis, is also a step in the    direction of making our workers more aware and to sensitize  them to  best  practices  to  ensure  their  welfare  and  safety.  Such PDOT  has  already  been  imparted  to  over  46,000  workers  so  far  and  a                  PreDeparture Orientation booklet has now been launched in 6 different Indian languages for distribution to emigrating workers.

In addition, Indian Missions / Posts abroad remain vigilant and closely monitor any incidents of harassment faced by Indian nationals, including the youth. Apart from that, Indian Missions/ Posts abroad also extend all possible help and assistance to Indian nationals including when they are detained by local police/ immigration authorities or put  in  prisons  for  violation  of  local  laws.  Apart  from  extending  them  all  possible consular assistance, Indian Missions and Posts also assist in availing legal aid wherever needed.

As  per  the  information  available  with  the  Ministry,  the  number  of  Indian prisoners  in  foreign  jails  as  of  31.05.2019  is  8189  which  also  includes  under-trials. Country-wise list is given at Annexure. However, due to strong privacy laws prevailing in many countries, the local authorities do not share information on prisoners unless the person concerned consents to the disclosure of such information. Even countries which share  information  do  not  generally  provide  detailed  information  about  the  people  of foreign countries imprisoned.

Indian Missions / Posts abroad remain vigilant and closely monitor the incidents of  Indian  nationals  being  put  in  jail  in  foreign  countries  for  violation  of  local  laws  or alleged  violation  of  local  laws.  Apart  from  extending  them  all  possible  consular assistance, Indian Missions and Posts also assist in availing legal aid wherever needed. Missions and Posts also maintain a local panel of lawyers where Indian community is in sizeable numbers. Legal assistance is also provided to Indian nationals abroad including those in prison on  a means-tested  basis in  deserving cases through  the Indian Community Welfare Fund.

Further,  the  Government  has  concluded  Agreements  on  Transfer  of  Sentenced Persons with a number of countries. Due to the efforts of the Government, a number of Indian  nationals  in  prisons  abroad  have  received  amnesty  or  commutation  of  their sentences. Since 2016 till present, in the countries in Gulf region a total of 3087 Indian nationals have received amnesty or commutation of their sentences.

***

| LS FAQ No. 72 reg. Harassment of Youth abroad to be answered on 26.06.2019   | LS FAQ No. 72 reg. Harassment of Youth abroad to be answered on 26.06.2019   | LS FAQ No. 72 reg. Harassment of Youth abroad to be answered on 26.06.2019   |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| S No                                                                         | Name of Country                                                              | Number of Indians in foreign jails as on 31.5.2019                           |
| 1                                                                            | Afghanistan                                                                  | Nil                                                                          |
| 2                                                                            | Algeria                                                                      | Nil                                                                          |
| 3                                                                            | Angola                                                                       | Nil                                                                          |
| 4                                                                            | Argentina                                                                    | Nil                                                                          |
| 5                                                                            | Armenia                                                                      | 9                                                                            |
| 6                                                                            | Austria                                                                      | 5                                                                            |
| 7                                                                            | Australia                                                                    | 78                                                                           |
| 8                                                                            | Azerbaijan                                                                   | 3                                                                            |
| 9                                                                            | Bahrain                                                                      | 134                                                                          |
| 10                                                                           | Belarus                                                                      | 1                                                                            |
| 11                                                                           | Bangladesh                                                                   | 58                                                                           |
| 12                                                                           | Belgium                                                                      | 12                                                                           |
| 13                                                                           | Bhutan                                                                       | 53                                                                           |
| 14                                                                           | Botswana                                                                     | Nil                                                                          |
| 15                                                                           | Brazil                                                                       | 2                                                                            |
| 16                                                                           | Brunei                                                                       | 1                                                                            |
| 17                                                                           | Bulgaria                                                                     | Nil                                                                          |
| 18                                                                           | Cambodia                                                                     | 3                                                                            |
| 19                                                                           | Canada                                                                       | 70                                                                           |
| 20                                                                           | Chile                                                                        | Nil                                                                          |
| 21                                                                           | China                                                                        | 270                                                                          |
| 22                                                                           | Congo                                                                        | 4                                                                            |
| 23                                                                           | Colombia                                                                     | 5                                                                            |
| 24                                                                           | Cote D' Ivoire                                                               | 1                                                                            |
| 25                                                                           | Croatia                                                                      | Nil                                                                          |
| 26                                                                           | Cuba                                                                         | 1                                                                            |
| 27                                                                           | Cyprus                                                                       | 11                                                                           |
| 28                                                                           | Czech Republic                                                               | Nil                                                                          |
| 29                                                                           | Denmark                                                                      | 5                                                                            |
| 30                                                                           | Egypt                                                                        | 2                                                                            |
| 31                                                                           | Ethiopia                                                                     | Nil                                                                          |
| 32                                                                           | Fiji                                                                         | 1                                                                            |
| 33                                                                           | Finland                                                                      | 1                                                                            |
| 34                                                                           | France                                                                       | 38                                                                           |
| 35                                                                           | Germany                                                                      | 59                                                                           |
| 36                                                                           | Ghana                                                                        | 1                                                                            |
| 37                                                                           | Greece                                                                       |                                                                              |
| 38                                                                           | Guatemala                                                                    | 2                                                                            |
| 39                                                                           | Guyana                                                                       | Nil                                                                          |
| 40                                                                           | Hungary                                                                      | 3                                                                            |
| 41                                                                           | Iceland                                                                      | Nil                                                                          |
| 42                                                                           | Indonesia                                                                    | 19                                                                           |
| 43                                                                           | Iran                                                                         | 18                                                                           |

| 44    | Iraq                | 4       |
|-------|---------------------|---------|
| 45    | Ireland             | Nil     |
| 46    | Israel              | 7       |
| 47    | Italy               | 242     |
| 48    | Jamaica             | Nil     |
| 49    | Japan               | 7       |
| 50    | Jordan              | 25      |
| 51    | Kazakhstan          | Nil     |
| 52    | Kenya               | Nil     |
| 53    | Korea (DPR)         | Nil     |
| 54    | Korea (Republic of) | 3       |
| 55    | Kuwait              | 511     |
| 56    | Kyrgyzstan          | 2       |
| 57    | Laos PDR            | 2       |
| 58    | Lebanon             | 5       |
| 59    | Libya               | Nil     |
| 60    | Madagascar          | 15      |
| 61    | Malawi              | Nil     |
| 62    | Malaysia            | 576     |
| 63    | Maldives            | 14      |
| 64    | Mali                | Nil 1   |
| 65    | Malta               |         |
| 66 67 | Mauritius Mexico    | 4       |
| 68    | Morocco             | 2       |
| 69    | Mongolia            | Nil Nil |
| 70    | Mozambique          | 6       |
| 71    | Myanmar             | 61      |
| 72    | Namibia             | NIL     |
| 73    | Nepal               | 1160    |
| 74    |                     | 1       |
|       | Netherlands         |         |
| 75 76 | New Zealand Niger   | 13 Nil  |
|       |                     | 1       |
| 77    | Nigeria             |         |
| 79    | Oman                | 101     |
| 80    | Pakistan            | 48      |
| 81    | Palestine           | Nil     |
| 82    | Panama              | 1       |
| 83    | Papua New Guinea    | Nil     |
| 84    | Peru                | Nil     |
| 85    |                     | 34      |
|       | Philippines         |         |
| 86 87 | Poland Portugal     | 5 5     |
| 88    |                     |         |
|       | Qatar               | 257     |
| 89    | Romania             | Nil     |
| 90    | Russia              | 6       |
| 91    | Saudi Arabia        | 1811    |
| 92    | Serbia              | Nil     |

| 94    | Seychelles               | Nil   |
|-------|--------------------------|-------|
| 95    | Singapore                | 111   |
| 96    | Slovak Republic          | Nil   |
| 97    | Slovenia                 | 2     |
| 98    | South Africa             | 6     |
| 99    | South Sudan              | Nil   |
| 100   | Spain                    | 21    |
| 101   | Sri Lanka                | 111   |
| 102   | Sudan                    | Nil   |
| 103   | Suriname                 | Nil   |
| 104   | Sweden                   | 2     |
| 105   | Switzerland              | Nil   |
| 106   | Syria                    | Nil   |
| 107   | Tajikistan               | Nil   |
| 108   | Tanzania                 | 1     |
| 109   | Thailand                 | 44    |
| 110   | Trinidad &Tobago         | Nil   |
| 111   | Tunisia                  | Nil   |
| 112   | Turkey                   | 2     |
| 113   | Turkmenistan             | Nil   |
| 114   | Uganda                   | 1     |
| 115   | United Arab Emirates     | 1392  |
| 116   | United Kingdom           | 6     |
| 117   | Ukraine                  |       |
| 118   | Venezuela                | Nil   |
| 119   | Vietnam                  | Nil   |
| 120   | United States of America | 689   |
| 121   | Uzbekistan               | Nil   |
| 122   | Venezuela                | Nil   |
| 123   | Vietnam                  | 1     |
| 124   | Yemen                    |       |
| 125   | Zambia                   | Nil   |
| 126   | Zimbabwe                 | Nil   |
| Total | Total                    | 8189  |

***