Lok Sabha Question No. 3584 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-13
Subject: Welfare of Indian Citizens Abroad
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: Adv K. Francis George

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3584

ANSWERED ON 13/03/2026

WELFARE OF INDIAN CITIZENS ABROAD

3584. ADV K. FRANCIS GEORGE

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)   whether   the   Government   has   taken   cognisance   of   incidents relating   to   racial   discrimination,   violence,   labour   exploitation   and mental health challenges faced by Indian citizens abroad;

(b) if so, the details of support services including helplines, legal aid, counselling and emergency response mechanisms provided by Indian Missions;

(c)   whether   any   bilateral   or   multilateral   arrangements   exist   for safeguarding rights and welfare of Indian nationals overseas and if so, the details thereof;

(d)   the   steps   taken   to   implement   pre-departure   orientation programmes and strengthen diaspora outreach mechanisms; and (e) the measures proposed to improve grievance redressal systems and coordination   between   the   Government   and   host   countries   for protection of Indian nationals abroad?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA)

(a) & (b) The Government remains alert for incidents relating to racial discrimination,   violence,   labour   exploitation   and   mental   health challenges   faced   by   Indian   citizens   abroad.   Indian   Missions/Posts abroad render all possible consular assistance to Indian nationals, whenever   required.   Indian   nationals   can   contact   the   Indian Missions/Posts   abroad   via   walk-ins,   email,   social   media   platforms, 24x7   emergency   telephone   numbers   and   Toll   Free   Helplines established by Missions/Posts abroad, grievance redressal portals like MADAD,   CPGRAMS   etc   for   redressal   of   their   grievances.   Indian nationals   who   are   in   distress   in   foreign   countries   are   provided

assistance under Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) set up in all Indian Missions/Posts abroad to meet any contingency expenditure incurred by them, on a means-tested basis. Advisories are issued for Indian   nationals   from   time   to   time,   asking   them   to   exercise   due caution   and   remain   vigilant.   The   Government   remains   vigilant   to developments impacting the lives of Indian nationals abroad and takes all   measures   to   safeguard   their   interests   and   welfare.   Apart   from extending all possible consular assistance to Indian nationals, Indian Missions/Posts also assist in providing legal aid wherever needed. Missions/Posts also maintain a local panel of lawyers where Indian community is in sizeable numbers.

(c) The Government has established a robust institutional framework to promote safe and legal migration while ensuring welfare and safety and preventing exploitation of Indian nationals abroad. MoUs/Agreements   such   as   Migration   and   Mobility   Partnership Agreements (MMPAs), Labour Mobility and Labour Welfare Agreements signed with the partner countries seek to establish robust frameworks for migrant workers welfare and protection and legal migration and for preventing irregular migration. The Labor and Manpower Cooperation

MOUs/Agreements   that   provide   the   overarching   framework   for cooperation on labour and manpower related issues have been signed with the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates) and Jordan. Further, to safeguard   the   specific   interests   of   domestic   workers   in   GCC Countries,   agreements   on   Labor   Cooperation   for   Domestic   Sector Workers (DSWs) have been signed with Saudi Arabia, UAE and Kuwait. Specific Labour Mobility Partnership Agreement/MOU/MOC have been signed with Denmark, Japan, Portugal, Mauritius, Israel, Malaysia and Russia. Migration and Mobility Partnership agreements to facilitate mobility   of   our   students,   academics,   business   people,   and professionals, have been signed with France, UK, Germany, Australia, Austria, Italy and Denmark.

(d) Pre-Departure Orientation Training (PDOT) programme is aimed at enhancing soft skills of Indian migrant workers, in terms of culture, language, tradition and local rules and regulations of the destination country. One-day long PDOT training also sensitizes migrant workers about pathways to safe and legal migration and various government programmes for their welfare and protection.

PDOT curriculum content has been standardized all over the country. Comprehensive   PDOT   Manuals   for   Master   Trainers   have   been developed in seven languages i.e. Hindi, English, Bangla, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu. The Ministry launched online PDOT in April 2021 to reach out to prospective emigrants who live far away from PDOT centres.

(e)   Indian   Missions/Posts   remain   vigilant   and   closely   monitor   any untoward incidents affecting Indian nationals abroad. Such incidents are immediately taken up with the concerned authorities of the host country to ensure that the cases are properly investigated and the perpetrators are punished as per their domestic laws. These issues are also raised at the political and official level with the countries concerned   during   bilateral   engagements   and   through   institutional dialogue mechanisms, including at the highest levels as appropriate.

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