RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-708
ANSWERED ON 08/02/2024
DEPORTATION OF INDIANS FROM VARIOUS COUNTRIES
708. SHRI DEEPENDER SINGH HOODA
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) the State-wise details of Indians caught/deported from the US, Canada, EU, Middle Eastern and Gulf countries while illegally entering/living without valid visas, since 2019;
(b) the likely reasons for Indians crossing over illegally to other countries without valid visas;
(c) whether there is a large decline in immigration of Indian workers to the US, Canada, EU, Middle Eastern, South East Asian and Gulf countries since 2019, year-wise trend; and
(d) the reasons for such a huge decline in the immigration of Indian workers to these countries?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN)
(a to d) Many foreign countries do not provide information on illegal stay in their countries, except when they are under orders of deportation and travel document/nationality verification is required. As such, our Missions and Posts do not have any reliable data on the number of Indians staying or working illegally in foreign countries. The procedure followed for deportation of foreign nationals also varies from country to country. Some countries do not arrest the deportee and keep them in detention/deportation centers until deportation. Moreover, the information about arrest/detention and deportation is not shared with Indian Missions/Posts and the deportation is done directly by the host Government if the deportee has valid travel document. Indian Missions/Posts are contacted by the host Governments only in such cases where the nationality verification and issuance of Emergency Certificate (EC) to the deportee is required. Since all foreign countries do not share details of all Indian deportees, the exact number of Indians deported from foreign countries is not available with the Ministry of External Affairs.
It has been noticed that several unscrupulous agents/travel agencies are illegally involved in the business of manpower recruitment for overseas employment. Information about illegal agents is uploaded and updated on regular basis on the e-Migrate Portal. As on 31 January 2024, 2959 illegal agents have been notified through e-Migrate portal.
The Government of India encourages only legal form of migration. Recruitment of Indian nationals for overseas employment is regulated under the Emigration Act 1983. Since 2015, the process of overseas employment for Emigration Check Required (ECR) countries is being processed through eMigrate portal, which is a faceless, paperless and cashless digital platform to register Recruitment Agencies, Foreign Employers and issue of Emigration Clearance (EC) to prospective overseas migrant workers.
To promote legal migration, Ministry has taken several initiatives such as Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojna (PBBY) and Pre-Departure Orientation & Training (PDOT) in ensuring that migrant workers undertake safe migration, have decent working and living conditions in destination countries, are aware of their rights and have access to the Government’s welfare schemes. Further, Ministry of External Affairs launched the ‘Surakshit Jayen Prashikshit Jayen’ (Go Safe, Go Trained) campaign in 2018 to raise awareness among prospective emigrants.
India signed a total of six (06) Migration & Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPAs) with countries like the UK, France, Germany, Australia, Austria, and Italy along with Labour Mobility Agreements (LMAs) with twelve (12) countries including Israel, Denmark, Portugal, Japan, Mauritius, Jordan and GCC countries.
MMPAs/LMAs seek to establish a robust framework for strengthening regular migration pathways and to promote people-to-people ties, streamline visa procedures, prevent irregular migration, further strengthen bilateral relations, and encourage skilled mobility.
The Ministry has been coordinating with a number of State governments and relevant stakeholders to disseminate information on the benefits of safe and legal migration and overseas employment opportunities. Complaints of illegal migration/human trafficking are referred to the State police for investigation and prosecution.
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