RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1822
TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2022
INDIANS BROUGHT BACK UNDER VANDE BHARAT MISSION
†1822. MS. SAROJ PANDEY:
Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Indian nationals brought back to India from foreign countries under Vande Bharat Mission during corona period;
(b) the names of the countries from where these people had been brought back to India; and
(c) the financial expenditure incurred by Government for the safety of Indians living abroad?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
(a) During the global Covid-19 pandemic, the Government of India launched the ‘Vande Bharat’ Mission to repatriate Indian nationals and to facilitate the travel of passengers between India and other parts of the world. As on 06th March 2022, 2.97 crore passengers (in-bound and out-bound) have been facilitated in the flights operated under the Vande Bharat Mission and Air Bubble Arrangements.
(b) The names of countries from where these people had been brought back are placed at Annexure I
.
(c) The Government through India Missions and Posts abroad assisted distressed and stranded Indian nationals by using the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF). Total expenditure incurred for assisting more than 1,73,618 Indian nationals abroad, including for repatriation and evacuation, has been Rs. 45.78 crores.