States asked to address NRI issues

The Ministry of Overseas Indians has asked the state governments to set up nodal departments to address issues related to Indians living abroad and promote legal migration from the country.

Addressing a consultative meeting with the states, Secretary in the Ministry of Overseas Indians K Mohandas said the state governments must set up separate departments to handle matters relating to the diaspora as well as those who want to go abroad to earn their livelihood.

"You should set up the nodal departments soon so as to ensure welfare of the overseas Indians and help those who want to migrate. Setting up of nodal departments will help in checking unscrupulous recruiting agents," he said.

Mohandas said a few states, including Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, have already set up such cells but others should also follow them.

He also requested the state representatives to vigorously launch skill development and pre-departure programmes orientation programmes for those seeking to migrate from the country.

"The state governments should initiate skill-upgradation and pre-departure orientation training to potential emigrant workers through optimum utilisation of resources available with the states," he said.

Mohandas also said there was a need to create a database of skilled manpower by the respective states to facilitate their legal migration.

Noting with regret that there has not been a single case of conviction against unscrupulous agents under the existing Emigration Act, he said stepped up efforts are needed to punish people who dupe those who want to go abroad in search of greener pastures.

Addressing the two-day meeting, Protector General of Emigrants J Panda said Government is proposing to introduce a new bill in the Parliament to plug various loopholes in the Emigration Act.

He said the objective of the proposed law would be to transform emigration into a simple and transparent process.

Panda said in the new bill, the Ministry has proposed to set up a new institution called Emigration Management Authority which will replace the existing Protector General of Emigrants.

The meeting is being attended by representatives from 16 states besides senior officials from the Ministries of Home, External Affairs and Labour.

The recommendations of the meeting would serve as guiding principle for the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and state governments for addressing concerns of the Indian workers living abroad.