RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-1376
ANSWERED ON- 11/12/2025
UTILIZATION OF INDIAN COMMUNITY WELFARE FUND
1376. SHRI SAKET GOKHALE
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) the details of Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) disbursals made for mass-casualty or emergency events since January 2022, mission-wise;
(b) the details of the criteria adopted for releasing the funds, the average time taken for relief, and whether post-event audits were conducted; and
(c) whether ICWF or Public Diplomacy funds have been utilized to finance events projected as community-led initiatives by Indian Missions during the last three years and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) The requisite Mission-wise details are given in Annexure-A.
(b) Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) funds can be utilized to assist Indian citizens residing in a foreign country or those in distress while visiting a foreign country. The fund is used for giving assistance to deserving Indians on a means-tested basis. ICWF guidelines provide for various kinds of assistance in emergency situations to distressed Indian nationals abroad as per the following details:
(i) Medical assistance in emergency cases - Emergency medical care may be provided to overseas Indians who suffer serious, life-threatening injuries, critical medical conditions, or severe disabilities when the employer, sponsor, or insurance company is unwilling to cover the expenses, and when the individual’s family is unable to afford or reimburse the costs after a means-tested assessment.
(ii) Air passage to stranded Indians - Mission/Post can pay for one-way airfare by cheapest class , on a means tested basis, for deserving distressed Indian nationals, from the country of departure of overseas Indian to the nearest airport/ first port of arrival in India.
(iii) Transportation of Mortal remains - The ICWF guidelines have provisions for transporting the mortal remains of a deceased Indian national to India—or for local cremation or burial—when neither the employer, sponsor, nor insurance company fulfills this responsibility and the family cannot bear the cost. It also permits arranging air travel for a doctor or attendant when required by local authorities to accompany the mortal remains, or to accompany a primary beneficiary who is permanently disabled or seriously ill, based on medical recommendation; in such cases, round-trip airfare may be provided for the accompanying medical professional or attendant.
The accounts of ICWF maintained at various Missions are audited by the Internal Audit Wing of the Ministry and are also be subject to Statutory Audit.
(c) ICWF guidelines also provide for organizing various cultural programs for the Indian community in the foreign country. The Indian Mission/Post abroad can utilize ICWF to support recognized Indian diaspora organizations in hosting Indian cultural programs during major festivals and national days, as well as events featuring local or India-based artists. Funds may also be used to provide honorarium for teachers of Indian languages and art forms, with students paying a nominal fee to cover venue and administrative costs. Additionally, Missions/Posts may organize an annual gathering for Indian students at educational institutions to address issues related to visas, residency, work permits, finances, and general welfare. Mission wise details of the ICWF expenditure in this regard in the last five years is given in Annexure A.
*****