LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3346
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.12.2021
ASSISTANCE TO INDIAN CITIZENS
3346. ADV. A.M. ARIFF:
Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken any steps for assisting Indian citizens found in distress abroad from the Indian Community Welfare Fund since the spread of COVID-19 pandemic from January 2020 to till date and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the expenditure out of the said fund on boarding and lodging, emergency medical care, legal assistance, payment of small fines, air passage and transportation of mortal remains from January 2020 to till date, country-wise and item-wise; and
(c) the balance amount in the Indian Community Welfare Fund as on date, country-wise?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) & (b) Since the spread of COVID-19 pandemic till October, 2021, Government of India has spent approximately Rs. 44 crores from the Indian Community Welfare Fund. The country-wise and item-wise details may please be seen in Annexure- I to V.
(c) As on September, 2021, Indian Community Welfare Fund has an available amount of approximately Rs. 474 crores.
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