RAJYA SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO.51
TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2019
DEATH OF INDIANS WORKING IN GULF COUNTRIES
*51. SHRI HUSAIN DALWAI:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of deaths of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain during the last three years, State-wise and year-wise;
(b) whether the Ministry has analysed the causes of these deaths, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Ministry has received complaints from the relatives of deceased workers regarding the cause of deaths and if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether action has been taken to prevent such deaths, including intervention with Gulf countries’ Governments and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRIMATI SUSHMA SWARAJ]
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF THE RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *51 REGARDING ‘DEATH OF INDIANS WORKING IN GULF COUNTRIES’ FOR ANSWER ON 07.02.2019
(a) A country wise compilation for each of the Gulf countries showing the number of deaths of Indian nationals in the last three years sorted on the basis of the various Indians states to which such Indian nationals belonged is provided in
Annexure.
(b) A compilation showing the major causes of death of Indian nationals in Gulf countries as reported by our Missions and Posts is given in
Annexure.
(c) Sometimes complaints/representations are received from the family members/relatives of the deceased Indian nationals at the Indian Mission/Post concerned. Based on such complaints and requests by family members regarding the causes of death, the Indian
Missions and Posts take up the matter with the local authorities concerned for investigation. On receipt of the reports from local agencies, the Mission/Post share them with the complainant/relatives of the deceased.
(d) The Ministry of External Affairs and our Missions/Posts in the Gulf, accord high priority to the welfare and well being of Indian nationals especially of Indian workers who constitute a large proportion of expatriate Indians in the region. As can be seen
from the
Annexure, a large number of deaths of Indian nationals in the Gulf countries can be attributed to natural causes, medical illnesses etc. Some deaths are also reported due to suicides,
accidents at work sites and road accidents.
In order to prevent workers’ deaths such as suicides, road accidents etc. in Gulf countries, awareness campaigns are conducted by the Missions/Posts through labour camps organised by Pravasi Bharatiya Seva Kendras (PBSK) in collaboration with the Indian Missions/Posts.
Indian officials work proactively to alleviate and resolve the difficulties being faced by Indian workers such as excessive working hours, inadequacy of medical facilities, excessive exposure to heat and sun stroke etc. Anyone having any difficulty can approach
Community Welfare Wing in getting his problems addressed promptly.
Consular Officers posted in Indian Missions/Posts abroad are tasked with addressing the difficulties of distressed Indians, including Indian workers, in various countries abroad. In Gulf countries where there are large numbers of Indian workers, our Missions
and Posts have specialized Community Welfare Wings and Labour Wings. In addition, the Government has launched an online portal called ‘MADAD’ for addressing the grievances of Indian nationals abroad. The MADAD Portal is regularly monitored in our Missions/Posts
at various levels, thus giving high priority to grievances of Indian workers.
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