Indian Govt alert on illegal immigration, safe migration of citizens

In response to a question raised by Deepender Singh Hooda in the Indian Parliament regarding illegal immigration from India, V. Muraleedharan, the Minister of State for External Affairs, shed light on the challenges posed by unscrupulous agents and outlined the government’s initiatives to tackle this issue.

Illegal Immigration Challenges and Measures:

The Minister acknowledged the presence of several unscrupulous agents and travel agencies involved in illegal manpower recruitment for overseas employment. He revealed that, as of October 30, 2023, 2925 illegal agents have been identified and notified through the e-Migrate portal.

Lack of Comprehensive Data:

Addressing the question about the number of illegal immigrants, Muraleedharan highlighted the challenges faced by Indian Missions and Posts in obtaining reliable data. Many foreign countries do not share information on illegal stays unless deportation orders are issued. Consequently, the Ministry of External Affairs lacks precise figures on Indians staying or working illegally abroad. The Minister explained that the procedures for deportation vary across countries, making it difficult to compile accurate statistics.

While addressing the concerns raised in Parliament, Minister Muraleedharan emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Indian migrants abroad, urging citizens to follow legal channels for migration

Government Initiatives for Safe Migration:

In an effort to curb illegal migration and promote safe practices, the government has undertaken various initiatives. A commemorative postal stamp, titled ‘Surakshit Jaaye, Prashikshit Jaaye,’ was released during the 17th Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas Convention in January 2023. The Ministry, in collaboration with other stakeholders, regularly organizes Pre-Departure Orientation & Training (PDOT) programs. These programs aim to educate prospective migrant workers about legal requirements, working conditions, and their rights in destination countries. As of November 30, 2023, over 1,35,000 prospective migrant workers have benefited from PDOT in both physical and online formats.

Raising Awareness:

To further raise awareness on safe and legal migration, the Ministry and Indian Missions/Posts regularly issue advisories through regional language print media. These advisories caution emigrating youth about the perils of illegal migration and false job offers.

While addressing the concerns raised in Parliament, Minister Muraleedharan emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of Indian migrants abroad, urging citizens to follow legal channels for migration.

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