LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5681
ANSWERED ON- 27/03/2026
ASSISTANCE UNDER INDIAN COMMUNITY WELFARE FUND
5681. SHRI KUNDURU RAGHUVEER
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government is implementing the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) to provide financial and logistical support to Indian citizens facing distress abroad;
(b) if so, the total amount allocated and utilized under ICWF during the last five years, country-wise and year-wise;
(c) the number of cases in which assistance has been provided under ICWF for repatriation of mortal remains, emergency medical aid, legal assistance, shelter and air tickets for stranded Indians during the said period;
(d) whether families from Telangana, particularly Nalgonda district, have approached Indian Missions seeking assistance under ICWF and if so, the details of support extended to them; and
(e) whether the Government proposes to introduce a single-window digital mechanism to help families in India track the status of assistance and procedures in cases of distress or death of Indian citizens abroad, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a to e) ICWF, set up in 2009, is aimed at assisting Overseas Indians in times of distress in the most deserving case, on a means-tested basis. Since its inception, more than INR 758 crores have been utilized up to December 2025 for extending assistance to over 3.67 lakh distressed overseas Indians. The ICWF guidelines have been comprehensively revised w.e.f. September 1, 2017. The revised guidelines have considerably expanded the scope of on-site welfare activities for the benefit of distressed Indian nationals that could be extended through the Fund. The guidelines cover three key areas namely: Assisting Overseas Indian nationals in distress situations (Boarding and Lodging, Air passage, Legal Assistance, Emergency Medical Care, Transportation of Mortal Remains), Community welfare activities and improvement in consular services. They now also include provisions for setting of legal panels in countries with sizable Indian Diaspora and assistance to distressed Indian women abroad.
ICWF is primarily funded by levying service charges on various consular services rendered by Indian Missions and Posts abroad. Hence, ICWF is a self-sustaining fund with no budgetary support from the Government. The fund is administered as per the guidelines approved by the Union Cabinet.
District-wise details of ICWF utilization are not available. However, the details of fund utilized from ICWF during the last five years are enclosed at Annexure–A
. The number of cases in which assistance has been provided under ICWF during the last five years is enclosed at Annexure–B.
The Government accords the highest priority to the safety, protection and well-being of all Indian nationals abroad, with various mechanisms in place to address such issues. It has established such mechanisms to enable Indian nationals abroad to reach out to the Indian Missions in case they need any assistance. Indian nationals can contact the Missions/Posts through various channels like walk-in, email, social media, multilingual 24x7 emergency numbers and also grievance redressal portals like MADAD, CPGRAMS, eMigrate etc. In addition, Indian Missions/Posts abroad have established toll-free helplines, Whatsapp numbers and have launched mobile apps to enable Indian nationals contact concerned Indian Missions/Posts when in distress or in emergency situations.
Indian Missions and Posts abroad have Consular/Community Welfare Wings with designated Officers to attend to the welfare issues of distressed Indian nationals. The Ministry has a well established mechanism/SoPs to coordinate with all Missions/Posts abroad to provide help to Indian nationals abroad in distress including in cases of deaths, local cremation/burial or transportation of mortal remains to their hometowns in India. The Consular/Community Welfare Officers can be contacted by Indian nationals at any time for advice and assistance. In case of emergency, Missions/Posts can be contacted on 24x7 helpline. Contact details of these officers and helpline numbers are displayed both on the website of the Indian Missions/Posts as well as on the Notice Boards in the Embassy premises.