Lok Sabha Question No. 1910 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-06
Subject: Welfare Programmes for Indian Workers Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shri Vishnu Dayal Ram

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1910 ANSWERED ON- 06/12/2024 WELFARE PROGRAMS FOR INDIAN WORKERS ABROAD

## 1910. SHRI VISHNU DAYAL RAM

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

- (a) the welfare programmes available for Indian workers overseas;
- (b) the amount of funds allocated for these programmes during the last three years, year-wise;
- (c) the number of workers who have attempted to avail such benefits along with the number of those who received them indicating the countries of their residence;
- (d) whether there are plans to expand these programmes in countries with high demand for Indian workers; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

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

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a to e) Several measures and steps have been taken by the Government of India to ensure the wellbeing and protection of Indian workers overseas such as Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY) and Pre-Departure Orientation &  Training   (PDOT).   The   Pravasi   Bharatiya   Bima   Yojana   (PBBY)   is   a mandatory insurance scheme aimed at safeguarding the interests of ECR category   Indian   migrant   workers   going   for   employment   to   18   ECR countries. The scheme provides an insurance cover of INR. 10 lakh and other benefits in case of accidental death or permanent disability leading to job loss, at a nominal insurance premium of INR 275/- for two years or INR 375/- for three years validity. PDOT is a one-day training programme on soft skills imparted by Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in collaboration with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), State Governments and other stake holders.

Our Missions/Posts abroad also utilize the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) to provide the following services/assistance to the Indian diaspora in destress on a means tested basis:

(a) Transportation of mortal remains to India or cremation with the consent of the family;

- (b) Emergency medical care;
- (c) Legal assistance;
- (d) Boarding and lodging; and
- (e) Air passage for stranded Indians.

The Government has established various mechanisms to enable Indian workers  abroad   to   reach   out   in   case   they   need   any   assistance.   The workers can contact the Missions/Posts through various channels like walk-in, email, multilingual 24x7 emergency numbers, grievance redressal portals like MADAD, CPGRAMS, eMigrate and social media etc.

E-Migrate is a comprehensive system developed to facilitate the safe and legal emigration of  Indian workers abroad. This initiative was made to make   the   emigration   process   transparent   and   to   address   various complaints.

Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras (PBSK) have been set up in New Delhi and at Dubai (UAE), Riyadh & Jeddah (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)  to   provide   assistance,   guidance   and   counselling   to Indian workers in distress.

Indian   Missions/Posts   abroad   have   also   established   24X7   Helplines including Toll Free Helplines, whatsapp numbers and have launched mobile Apps to enable Indian nationals contact respective Indian Missions/Posts when in distress or in emergency situation.

Apart   from   these   mechanisms,   the   existing   Inter-Governmental   Labour migration Agreements cover most of the destination countries of the Indian migrant workforce and provide overarching framework for cooperation on labour and manpower issues. These agreements have the provision of implementation through a Joint Working Group where the issues of the workers are discussed during periodical meetings.

The source of fund of ICWF is fees levied upon consular services in Indian Missions/Posts.  Pravasi   Bharatiya   Bima   Yojana   (PBBY)   is   an   insurance scheme available to all Indian workers, who are emigrating from India, at a nominal   payment   to   the   insurance   companies   as   premium.   PDOT   is allocated funds from the budget of MEA every year. Number of beneficiaries under ICWF, PBBY, E-migrate, PDOT and the budgetary allocation to PDOT in the last three years is given in Annexure-I.

## ANNEXURE-I

Data regarding the number of beneficiaries and the amount allocated for different schemes aimed at welfare of Indian workers abroad in the past three years

## PDOT:

|                         | 2022                           | 2023                              | 2024                          |
|-------------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| Budget Amount allocated | Rs. 3 crores only (FY 2022-23) | Rs. 1.20 crores only (FY 2023-24) | Rs. 1 crore only (FY 2024-25) |
| Number of beneficiaries | 15286                          | 13286                             | 20012 (upto 31.10.24)         |

## E-migrate:

The data regarding migration of Indian workers proceeding for overseas employment   through   e-Migrate   portal   to   any   of   the   18   notified   ECR category countries during the last 3 years is as below:

| Year                       | Number of Emigration Clearance granted   |
|----------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| 2022                       | 3,73,425                                 |
| 2023                       | 3,98,317                                 |
| 2024 (till 19 th November) | 3,48,629                                 |

|                               |   Number of beneficiaries in last three years |   Number of beneficiaries in last three years | Number of beneficiaries in last three years   |
|-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| Name of Scheme                |                                          2022 |                                          2023 | 2024                                          |
| Indian Community Welfare Fund |                                         25725 |                                         18960 | 6993 (upto September 2024)                    |
| Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana |                                        422650 |                                        300233 | 239717 (upto September 2024)                  |

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