Lok Sabha Question No. 1719 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-27
Subject: Migrant Resource Centres
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: SHASHI THAROOR, GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1719 TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2016

## MIGRANT RESOURCE CENTRES

1719. DR. SHASHI THAROOR: SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the recently established four Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) have been successful in providing specialized assistance to migrants for speedy, organised and legal migration;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  number  of  complaints received  and  the  number  of  grievances  addressed  so  far  in each of the four MRCs;
- (c) whether  the  Government  will  consider  establishing  MRCs  in other cities including Thiruvananthapuram;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

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

## ANSWER (SHRI M. J. AKBAR)

(a) & (b) The Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs) act as facilitation centres  for  registering,  responding  to  and  monitoring  grievances; walk-in counselling centres for emigrants; providing information and assistance to intending migrants and overseas workers relating to all  aspects  of  emigration  and  overseas  employment;  and  handling complaints on recruitment and employment contracts.

This  also  includes  providing  advice  on  the  authenticity  of recruiting agents; pre-departure and post-departure guidelines; visa status; address of Indian Mission concerned for checking the details of  employer  and  visa;  guidance  on  passport  issuance/renewal; authenticity of the foreign employer; guidance on emigration clearance; information on Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojna; information about the restriction/advisory for any specific country, etc.

The year-wise number of calls and walk-in enquiries received and addressed so far in each of the MRCs is as under:

| S. No.   | MRC       | Service   | 2011   | 2012   | 2013   | 2014   | 2015   |
|----------|-----------|-----------|--------|--------|--------|--------|--------|
| 1.       | Hyderabad | Calls     | 2167   | 1948   | 1091   | 721    | 1601   |
|          |           | Walk-ins  | 1401   | 753    | 259    | 318    | 909    |
| 2.       | Kochi     | Calls     | 3583   | 2158   | 1884   | 1861   | 2519   |
|          |           | Walk-ins  | 818    | 775    | 932    | 721    | 586    |
| 3.       | Chennai * | Calls     | -      | -      | -      | -      | 122    |
|          |           | Walk-ins  | -      | -      | -      | -      | 49     |
| 4.       | Lucknow * | Calls     | -      | -      | -      | -      | 61     |
|          |           | Walk-ins  | -      | -      | -      | -      | 11     |
| 5.       | Gurgaon * | Calls     | -      | -      | -      | -      | -      |
|          |           | Walk-ins  | -      | -      | -      | -      | 207    |

(* Set up only in 2015)

Out  of  these,  752  refer  to  complaints.  These  complaints  are forwarded to the Ministry and our Missions/Posts abroad and are in various stages of resolution.

(c) to (e) Currently, there is no such proposal under consideration. There is an Overseas Workers Resource Centre (OWRC) in Gurgaon and an Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) in Dubai.  In addition, the Ministry has also approved setting up four new IWRCs in Riyadh, Jeddah, Sharjah and Kuala Lumpur.

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