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QUESTION NO.459 REPATRIATION OF INDIAN NATIONALS IN FOREIGN PRISONS

February 07, 2019

RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.459
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2019

REPATRIATION OF INDIAN NATIONALS IN FOREIGN PRISONS

459. SHRI SANJAY SETH:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the efforts made by the Ministry to have inter-Ministerial meetings on the repatriation of Indian nationals in foreign prisons; and

(b) the details of use of Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) by Indian Missions for repatriation of Indian prisoners, person-wise and percentage-wise?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) There is a regular process of consultation and coordination among relevant Ministries on the issue of repatriation of Indian nationals in foreign prisons including in the context of bilateral agreements for Transfer of Sentenced Persons (TSP).

(b) The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is aimed at assisting Indian nationals abroad in times of distress and emergency in the ‘deserving cases’ on a ‘means tested basis’. In view of its immense utility, ICWF stands extended to all Indian Missions and Posts abroad.

The revised ICWF guidelines, operational with effect from September 1, 2017, have been made more broad-based and have expanded the scope of welfare measures that can be extended through the Fund.

Since January 2014 – September 2018, over 25000 Indians have been provided air passages from the Fund. However, separate data related to number of prisoners repatriated through ICWF is not available.

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