Lok Sabha Question No. 1052 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: Cases of Fraud
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Ranjanben Dhananjay Bhatt

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1052

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 08 TH  FEBRUARY, 2022/ MAGHA 19, 1943 (SAKA)

CASES OF FRAUD

†1052.     SHRIMATI RANJANBEN DHANANJAY BHATT:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  multiple  cases  of  fraud  on  pretext  of  sending  youth  to  gulf countries  in  various  parts  of  the  country  have  come  into  notice  of  the Government;
- (b) if so, whether the Government proposes to take any measures to check it;

(c)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  time  by  which  it  is  likely  to  be implemented; and

(d) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (d): Complaints are received from time to time by the Ministry of External Affairs from and/or on behalf of Indian emigrants or their relatives,  who  are  sent  for  study  or  overseas  employment  fraudulently  by illegal agents/fake agencies or fake institutions and are thereafter subjected to fraud, cheating, denial of jobs, poor working conditions etc.

The complaints are referred to Missions/Post abroad for providing relief/rescue of emigrants in distress and redressal of their grievances with the help of employers/sponsors/local authorities. In India, these complaints, with  details of illegal  agents  and  fake  agencies,  are  forwarded  to  the concerned  State/UT  Government  and  Police  authorities  to  take  action against  illegal  agents  as  per  law.  The  Government has  issued  Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in 2016, to be followed by State Governments, on receipt of complaints against fake agencies or fake institutions.

Visual  and  print  media  campaign  is  also  launched  from  time  to  time, encouraging emigrants to utilize the services of the registered Recruitment Agents  and  not  to  go  through  illegal/fake  agents.  The  State  Governments have  also  been  requested  to  launch  periodic  visual  and  print  media campaigns for creating awareness in regional languages.

The  Government  has  also  launched  e-Migrate  portal  which  maintains  list and  details  of  legal/registered  recruiting  agencies,  and  also  the  list  of illegal/fake agencies and institutions.

Indian Missions conduct Open Houses on a regular basis where Indians can speak on their working conditions and seek redressal of their grievances. Missions  have  also  established  24x7 Helplines and Toll Free  Helplines for

## L.S.US.Q.NO.1052 FOR 08.02.2022

the benefit of Indians to seek help.   A multi-lingual 24X7 Helpline  Pravasi Bharatiya  Sahayata  Kendra  (PBSK)  in  New  Delhi  provides  information, guidance and grievance redressal on all issues and problems pertaining to overseas employment of Indian nationals.

Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras (PBSKs) have also been set up at Dubai (UAE),  Riyadh,  Jeddah  (Kingdom  of  Saudi  Arabia)  and  Kuala  Lumpur (Malaysia), to provide guidance and counseling on all matters pertaining to overseas  Indian  workers.    Kshetriya  Pravasi  Sahayata  Kendras  (KPSKs) have been setup in Kochi, Hyderabad, Chennai, Lucknow and Delhi to assist emigrants or their relatives to redress their problems/complaints regarding overseas employment.

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