Lok Sabha Question No. 2544 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-08-02
Subject: Human Trafficking
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2544

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 02 ND  AUGUST, 2022/SRAVANA 11, 1944 (SAKA)

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

2544.  ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  human  trafficking  to  Gulf countries is increasing and if so, the details thereof;

(b)  whether  the  Government  has  noted  the  recent  incidents  of  human trafficking  to  Kuwait  in  which  many  women  were  trapped  by  offering overseas  placement  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  action taken thereon; and

(c) the measures taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to prevent such incidents?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI AJAY KUMAR MISHRA)

(a) to (c): The  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  compiles  crime statistics  reported  to  it  by  the  States  and  Union  Territories  (UTs)  and publishes  the  same  in  its  annual  publication  'Crime  in  India'.  The  latest published report is of the year 2020. Specific information is not available with NCRB.

However, some Indian Missions in Gulf countries had received complaints in  this  regard.  The  Mission  in  Bahrain  came  across  4  cases  of  human trafficking  in  the  year  2021  and  9 cases  in  2022  (till June).  The Indian

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2544 FOR 02.08.2022

Mission in Kuwait has reported registration of 2390 and 1637 complaints by domestic workers, in the year 2021 and 2022 (till June) respectively, who had entered into Kuwait without proper documents.

The Government of India has undertaken several measures for protection of emigrant workers-

(i) The Government of India has signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with various countries especially where there are large number of Indian workers.

(ii) Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has been set up in all Indian Missions/Posts abroad to meet contingency expenditure incurred by them for  carrying  out  various  welfare  activities  for  overseas  Indian  citizens  in distress.

(iii) The  Ministry  of  External  Affairs  has  set  up  a  24/7  Helpline  'Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK)' in New Delhi, for providing information and guidance on all matters and problems pertaining to overseas employment to Indian nationals.

(iv) The  Government  of  India  has  also  set  up  'MADAD'  Portal  for  online lodging of grievances of the emigrants and to track their redressal.

(v) Indian Missions/Posts abroad conduct Open Houses on regular basis to provide direct access to workers to register their grievances and seek redressal  of  the same.  Missions/Posts  abroad  have also established 24/7

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 2544 FOR 02.08.2022

Helplines  and  Toll  Free  Helplines.  They  have  also  launched  Mobile Applications to enable Indian workers  in Gulf countries to contact respective Indian Missions/Posts abroad when in distress or in emergency situations.

(vi) Since August, 2016, Emigration Clearance of all  female  workers having ECR passports, for overseas employment in 18 ECR countries have been made mandatory through State-run recruiting agencies.

(vii) Every Foreign Employer desirous of directly recruiting a female ECR worker is required to deposit a Bank Guarantee equivalent to US $2500 in the respective Indian Mission.

(viii)  Embassy  attestation  has  been  made  mandatory in  respect  of  direct recruitment  of  all  ECR  passport  holder  women  workers  in  respect  of  all ECR countries.

(ix) With effect from June 2015, registration of Foreign Employers in the e-migrate system has been made mandatory.

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