Lok Sabha Question No. 1889 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-08-02
Subject: Shortage of Staff in Passport Offices
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri M K Raghavan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1889

## ANSWERED ON- 02/08/2024

## SHORTAGE OF STAFF IN PASSPORT OFFICES

## 1889. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN

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

(a) whether the Government has noticed a shortage of staff in the passport office of Kozhikode region, if so, the measures taken to address the same;

(b) whether the Government plans to establish a special cell to deal with repatriation of NRIs, who are in trouble for various reasons in other countries, if so, the details thereof; and

(c) the latest migration figures from Kerala to various countries?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) The working strength of officers and officials of Central Passport Organization (CPO) in Regional Passport Office, Kozhikode is 69. Further,   the   Government   has   strived   to   augment   manpower   as required,   by   taking   various   steps   including   regular   promotion   of eligible officials and officers of the CPO, appointment of officers and officials   in   CPO   on   direct   recruitment   &   deputation   basis   and engagement of staff on contractual basis.

(b)  The   Central   Government   has   set   up   several   mechanisms   to facilitate   repatriation   of   Indians   who   are   in   trouble   in   foreign countries   which   includes   e-Migrate   web   portal,   MADAD   portal, Pravasi Bhartiya Sahayata Kendras, 24x7 Helplines, Open Houses at Indian Missions and Posts. The Indian Community Welfare Fund has been   established   in   Indian   Missions/Posts   abroad   for   providing assistance   to   stranded   Indians,   such   as   boarding   and   lodging facilities, emergency medical care, legal assistance and air passage for repatriation to India on means tested basis.

(c) The Bureau of Immigration (BoI) deals and accords immigration clearance to those passengers who travel on valid travel documents. Human migration refers to movement of people from one place to another with intention of settling, permanently or temporarily. Statewise break-up of passports issued to Indian nationals is not available

as Indian citizens can apply for passport from anywhere in India on the   basis   of   their   present   residential   addresses   which   may   be different from the states to which they actually belong. Bureau of Immigration cannot segregate State-wise data. Also, some countries provide short term visa like 'visit visa' which can be converted to other category after reaching the destination country.

However, the available Emigration Clearance (EC) data from Kerala to Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) countries, as available on eMigrate portal, is as follows:

| S. No.   | Country              |   No. of EC issued in 2024 (01.01.2024 to 22.07.2024) |
|----------|----------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| 1.       | BAHRAIN              |                                                   283 |
| 2.       | IRAQ                 |                                                    10 |
| 3.       | JORDAN               |                                                     6 |
| 4.       | KUWAIT               |                                                   624 |
| 5.       | MALAYSIA             |                                                    65 |
| 6.       | OMAN                 |                                                  1368 |
| 7.       | QATAR                |                                                   844 |
| 8.       | SAUDI ARABIA         |                                                  4716 |
| 9.       | UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |                                                   475 |
| Total    | Total                |                                                  8391 |

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