Major Achievements
in respect of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs for the year 2015
YEAR-END REVIEW 2015
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The
13th Edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention was
held successfully at Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre, Gandhinagar, Gujarat
from 7 – 9 January, 2015. This year’s PBD was special being the centenary year
of the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India. The Ministry of
Youth Affairs & Sports was the Partner Ministry for the PBD 2015 and
Gujarat was the partner State. H.E Donald Ramotar, the Hon’ble President of
Guyana was the Chief Guest of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held at Gandhinagar in
January, 2015. Maite Nkoana Mashabane, Minister of International Relations and
Cooperation was the Guest of Honour of the PBD-2015.
Hon’ble
Prime Minister during the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas (PBD) held in Gujarat from 7-9
January, 2015 announced the starting of an Online Quiz titled ‘Bharat Ko
Janiye’ for imparting knowledge on India among the Diaspora children and youth.
The quiz was launched by Hon’ble Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs on 24th
Nov 2015. This online quiz programme on India has been arranged for NRI / PIO
and others to get an all-round understanding on India.
9th
Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) Convention was organized by MOIA in Los
Angeles, USA from 14th - 15th November 2015 for interaction & discussion
with Indian Diaspora to ensure their connectivity with their ancestral
motherland as well to know their expectations & concerns.
(a)
The Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) (a PPP between Ministry of
Overseas Indian Affairs and CII) in July 2015 decided that the OIFC will
undertake enhanced and sustained engagement with overseas Indians in a
proactive manner, with special emphasis on the young Diaspora, and engagement
with the State Governments in India.
(b) The
Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) organised the Indian Diaspora
Business Meeting in Los Angeles on 14th November 2015 on the
side-lines of 9th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas – Los Angeles,
USA.
This
Ministry played a leading role in the repatriation of Indian nationals from
Yemen with funding through the Indian Community Welfare Fund. A total of 5600
Indians were evacuated with the active involvement of various Ministries that
was coordinated by MEA.
For
the period from January to September 2015 Know India Programme (KIP) were
conducted in the state of Gujarat, Goa and Punjab. A separate KIP for
Francophone countries has also been started this year from 6th
January to 26th January, 2015.
With
a view to meet the objectives of “Minimum Government, Maximum Governance”, MOIA
has, with effect from 16 January, 2015 started issuing Electronic clearance
through the e-Migrate portal and stopped the affixing of ECR stickers on the
passports from that date. This electronic clearance is also available on the
data base of the Bureau of Immigration at all their Check Posts. This has made
the Emigration Clearance process simpler, easier and less time consuming for
the emigrant.
(a) The
Emigration Act, 1983 provides for registration of Recruiting Agents, to recruit
Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) passport holders going to ECR countries on
employment visa. The Rules in this regards provide for security in the form of
Bank Guarantee to be provided by the Recruiting Agents, as a part of the
process of the registration. The security amount has been enhanced from Rs.
20.00 lakhs to Rs.50.00 lakhs vide Gazette Notification dated 21/09/2015.
(b) Joint
Consultative Committee Meeting between India and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was
held on 12th – 13th October, 2015 to discuss various
issues relating to the Agreement on Labour Cooperation for Domestic Service
Workers (DSW) recruitment between India and Saudi Arabia and welfare of
emigrants.
This
Ministry and Government of Tamil Nadu set up in June 2015, a Migrant Resource
Centre (MRC) in Chennai, to provide intending migrant workers information on
all aspects of overseas employment. The MRC in Chennai is the fourth such MRC
in India, set up by the MOIA.
E-Office,
a digital filing system, introduced in October, 2015, has been made operational
in the Ministry. The system was officially launched on 01/10/2015 as a Good-governance
initiative. All new files are being generated through e-office. The
processing time has been reduced substantially and while ensuring transparency
and accountability.
(a) IDF-OI
held its 4th Board Meeting on 23rd May 2015 and 5th
Board Meeting on 5th December 2015 chaired by Hon’ble Minister of
Overseas Indian Affairs and Chairperson, IDF-OI.
(b) IDF-OI
held a successful outreach from 15-16 October 2015 in three cities of UAE- Abu
Dhabi, Sharjah and Dubai to showcase its projects and invite the Diaspora to
make contributions. NRIs and PIOs gave commitments to support flagship
programmes such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Clean Ganga Mission.
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