Lok Sabha Question No. 1438 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-10
Subject: Indians Rescued from Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Sanganna Amarappa Karadi, Prathap Simha

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1438 ANSWERED ON- 10/02/2023

## INDIANS RESCUED FROM ABROAD

## 1438. SHRI SANGANNA AMARAPPA SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-

(a) the number of individuals/groups in distress and rescued from abroad by the Government, country-wise;

(b)whether   the   Government   has   been   successful   in   identifying   and   prosecuting   the syndicates/individuals responsible for such crimes committed on Indians and If so, the details thereof during the last 3 years,country-wise; and

(c) whether the Government has been able to spread awareness among the people and prevent Indians from falling into such human trafficking/kidnapping/bonded labour practices abroad and if so, the details thereof along with the remedial steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)

(a to c) Indians living abroad got stuck in foreign countries during the last three years for various reasons such as COVID-19 induced flight restrictions and conflicts in Afghanistan and Ukraine. Government of India successfully facilitated travel of 3.2 crore people (inbound and outbound) under Vande Bharat Mission including Air Bubble Agreements; 18278 under Operation Ganga from Ukraine and 669 people from Afghanistan under  Operation Devi Shakti.

As and when complaints of illegal migration/human trafficking are received, they are referred to the State Government for investigation and prosecution. Upon investigation of the complaints, the State Governments seeks Prosecution Sanctions against illegal agents from the Ministry. Details of complaints received and forwarded to State Governments for action, requests received from State Governments for issue of Prosecution Sanction and the Prosecution Sanctions issued during the last three years are as under:

|   YEAR |   No. of Complaints |   Cases referred to State Governments for action |   Prosecution Sanction sought |   Prosecution Sanction issued |
|--------|---------------------|--------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|
|   2020 |                 166 |                                              166 |                             7 |                             7 |
|   2021 |                 139 |                                              139 |                             7 |                             7 |
|   2022 |                 297 |                                              297 |                            11 |                            11 |

The Government of India encourages only legal form of migration from India. The Ministry routinely organizes outreach programs to sensitize various stakeholders about benefits of safe and legal migration and on possible ways of preventing illegal migration through fake or unregistered recruitment agencies. Information about illegal agents is also uploaded and updated on regular basis on the eMigrate Portal. Ministry also issues advisories, media briefings and tweets about fake job rackets from time to time. Such communications are also issued by concerned Indian Missions/Posts abroad through their websites and social media handles and through the print media. Quick and decisive action is taken by concerned Indian Missions/Posts as well as by Protector of Emigrant offices in India whenever instances of exploitation of workers by illegal agents are noticed.  As on 10 January 2023, 2331 illegal agents have been notified in eMigrate Portal. This information   is   regularly   updated   based   on   complaints   filed   by   affected   individuals.   These complaints are also forwarded to concerned state police authorities for taking suitable action against illegal/fake agents as per existing laws. The Ministry through Indian Missions/Posts abroad, takes pro-active measures for rescue of Indian nationals trapped in foreign countries whenever such cases come to the notice of the Ministry.

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