RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2933
TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2020
REPATRIATION OF PERSONS FROM KUWAIT
2933. SHRI T.G. VENKATESH:
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :
(a) whether Government is aware that large number of persons who have gone to Kuwait are struggling to come back to India;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether State Government of Andhra Pradesh has sought any interference of the Ministry to bring them back to Andhra Pradesh, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) the steps being taken by Government in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) & (b) A very small proportion, of over one million Indians in Kuwait, sought assistance for repatriation. 683 Indians were provided Ministry’s assistance to return to India in 2019.
(c) & (d) Several State Governments, Members of Parliament and Officials, including from Andhra Pradesh, approached the Indian Mission in Kuwait for assistance in cases of repatriation and other issues regarding Indian Workers. There were three such references
from MPs and Officials from Andhra Pradesh in 2020. Besides, the Mission received 1189 complaints in 2019, and 739 complaints in 2018 from residents of Andhra Pradesh.
Not all the complainants seek repatriation. Whenever applicable, Mission is able to coordinate with local authorities and the sponsor families, and repatriate/deport the distressed back to India. The remaining cases get resolved through negotiations. On receiving
the complainants from the Domestic Service Workers (DSWs), Mission accommodates the deserving cases in shelter and simultaneously takes up this issue with Domestic Labour Office under Ministry of Social Affairs & Labour (MoSAL). Thirty Two female workers from
Andhra Pradesh are currently in the shelter.
Further, workers (other than DSW) under work visa category also approach the Mission with requests for repatriation. Their cases are perused with Public Authority for Manpower (PAM) under MoSAL and clearance obtained for leaving the country after settlement
of the issues involved. Certain cases are also resolved by Mission through direct negotiation with the sponsor/company. Mission extends all possible assistance to the distressed overseas workers in accordance with guidelines of Indian Community Welfare Fund
(ICWF).
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