LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.475
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2017
LIST OF INDIAN WORKERS ABROAD
475. SHRI Y.V. SUBBA REDDY:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) whether States are requesting the Ministry to maintain a list of Indians working in Gulf countries and distribute the same to States concerned so that the concerned State can take necessary steps whenever needed;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the reasons why Ministry cannot have bilateral agreement with each of the Gulf countries so that prisoners can be sent back to respective States to execute remaining term of punishment in Indian jails; and
(d) the other suggestions received from other States in the conference conducted recently in Delhi by the Ministry and status of implementation of each of such suggestion?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI M. J. AKBAR)
(a) & (b) Some States have inter-alia requested for sharing of data of Indians working in Gulf countries from the concerned States during a recent conference held by Ministry of External Affairs with State Governments. This data is placed at
Annexure.
List of Indians working in Gulf countries from a specific State will be provided to the concerned State Government separately.
(c) India has bilateral agreements on ‘Transfer of Sentenced Persons’ with several countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
(d) Several suggestions were received during the Conference with State Governments by the Ministry. Some of the key suggestions were:
(i) Posting of language translators in Missions abroad;
(ii) Early dispatch of mortal remains of Indian workers from overseas;
(iii) Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY) to be extended to Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR) passport holders also;
(iv) Taking stern action against illegal agents in different States;
(v) Opening of more POE offices in U.P., Bihar, Dehradun and North East States;
(vi) Synchronization of Skill Development initiatives with Overseas Employment etc.
Action on these suggestions is under process.
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