Lok Sabha Question No. 275 (STARRED), answered on 2024-08-09
Subject: Migration Agreements for Welfare of Students
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. Pradeep Kumar Panigrahy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO- 275

ANSWERED ON  09.08.2024

## MIGRATION AGREEMENTS FOR WELFARE OF STUDENTS

*275. DR. PRADEEP KUMAR PANIGRAHY

Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state :-

(a) the details of  measures undertaken by the Government for the welfare   and   assistance   of   students   and   young   professionals   going abroad for education; and

(b) the list of countries whom the Government has signed migration agreements along with the benefits of the agreements accruing to young professionals, workers and students?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

(DR. SUBRAHMANYAM JAISHANKAR)

(a & b) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (b) in respect of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.  275 for reply on 09.08.2024 regarding 'Migration Agreements for Welfare of Students'.

(a) Safety and welfare of Indian students and young professionals going abroad for education are the top most priorities of Government of India. Indian   Missions/Posts   abroad   maintain   regular   contacts   with   Indian students enrolled in Universities abroad. New Indian students enrolled in foreign Universities, are invited to participate in events organised by Indian Missions/Posts abroad. Senior Embassy officials also visit foreign Universities and Educational Institutions in their respective countries of accreditation   to   regularly   interact   with   Indian   students   and   Indian Students' Associations.

Indian Missions/Posts abroad also encourage Indian students and young professionals travelling abroad for higher studies to register with them. Indian Missions/Posts abroad also encourage them to remain connected on a regular basis and make all possible efforts to respond to the outstanding issues faced by them on a priority basis. The grievances of the students and young professionals are responded to almost on a real time basis through telephone calls, walk-ins, emails, social media, 24x7 emergency helplines, open houses and the MADAD Portal. Any complaint received from the Indian students and young professionals abroad are

taken   up   with   the   concerned   University/Institution   and   the   host Government,   to   ensure   that   they   are   properly   investigated   and   the perpetrators   are   punished.   During   emergencies   or   crisis   situations, Indian   Missions/Posts   abroad   pro-actively   help   distressed/stranded Indians overseas by providing them food, shelter, medicines and ensure their return/evacuation to India as soon as possible. Shelter homes for distressed   Indian   nationals   have   also   been   set   up   at   some Missions/Posts. Financial assistance to distressed Indians, if necessary, is provided through the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). Most recently, stranded Indian nationals were evacuated to India through the Vande  Bharat   Mission,   Operation   Ganga   (Ukraine),   Operation   Kaveri (Sudan) and Operation Ajay (Israel) from countries around the world. The return of many Indian students and young professionals from Bangladesh was also facilitated by our High Commission.

(b)  List of  countries with which Migration & Mobility Agreements and Labour Mobility Agreements have been signed from 2014 till date is appended   at   Annexure-A.   Government   of   India   has   signed   diverse MoUs/Agreements such as Migration and Mobility Partnerships, Labour Mobility and Labour Welfare with various countries to establish a robust framework   for   strengthening   regular   migration   pathways.   These Agreements/MoUs seek to promote people-to-people  ties,   streamline

visa procedures, tackle irregular migration, reinforce bilateral relations, and   encourage   skilled   labour   mobility.   The   Migration   &   Mobility Partnership Agreements , inter alia, include provisions for facilitating the mobility of Indian students, young professions etc. abroad such as the extended post-study stays, intra-corporate secondment etc. The Labour Welfare   &   Mobility   Agreements,   while   facilitating   mobility   of   Indian skilled workforce, contain safeguards and provisions for ensuring the welfare of Indian workers employed overseas.

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## Annexure-A

## Migration & Mobility Agreements Signed since 2014

|   S. No. | MMPA signed with   | Signed on           |
|----------|--------------------|---------------------|
|        1 | France             | 10 th March 2018    |
|        2 | United Kingdom     | 4 th May 2021       |
|        3 | Germany            | 5 th December 2022  |
|        4 | Austria            | 13 th May 2023      |
|        5 | Australia          | 23 rd May 2023      |
|        6 | Italy              | 2 nd November 2023  |
|        7 | Denmark            | 22 nd February 2024 |

## Labour Mobility Agreements Signed since 2014

|   S. No. | LMA signed with      | Signed on            |
|----------|----------------------|----------------------|
|        1 | Saudi Arabia         | 3 rd April 2016      |
|        2 | United Arab Emirates | 11 th February 2018  |
|        3 | Jordan               | 1 st March 2018      |
|        4 | Japan                | 18 th January 2021   |
|        5 | Kuwait               | 10 th June 2021      |
|        6 | Portugal             | 13 th September 2021 |
|        7 | Mauritius            | 10 th May 2023       |
|        8 | Israel               | 3 rd November 2023   |
|        9 | Taiwan               | 16 th February 2024  |

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