Scheme to Assist Widows of Deceased Workers

Scheme to Assist Widows of Deceased Workers

The Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has made an Insurance Scheme Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojna (PBBY) compulsory for Emigration Check Required (ECR) workers going to ECR countries for employment. Under this scheme the emigrant worker gets a minimum insurance cover of Rs. 10.00 lakh.

The Government regulates Emigration Check Required (ECR) passport holders going to an ECR country (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Sudan (South), Syria, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen) for employment. The cases reported by the Indian Missions in these countries in respect of matter relating to death compensation are given in the annexure.

There is a mechanism in Indian Missions for following up on all cases relating to legal dues and death compensation claims. The Missions provide assistance, on a pro-active basis, right from informing the next of kin to facilitating the disposal of mortal remains either by local burial or transportation to India, in coordination with the sponsors. On receipt of the requisite documents duly attested by concerned authorities in India, the Indian Missions file the cases for death compensation through their panel of lawyers on behalf of the legal heirs. The Missions keep the family of the deceased informed about the progress of the case from time to time. On receipt of compensation in local currency, the Missions forward a demand draft in Indian Rupees (equivalent to the amount received as compensation) issued in favour of the concerned District Collector, for disbursement under intimation to the legal heirs of the deceased.

In the event of onsite and road traffic accidents, the Missions pursue cases on behalf of the families on receipt of a Power of Attorney and Legal Heirship Certificate from them. In the event of refusal by Insurance Companies to honour the judgement of the Court, civil cases are filed for execution of the same.

In the event of any delay, the Missions intervene with the company concerned, and if necessary, with the local Government agency concerned, to facilitate settlement of the outstanding dues.

Annexure

Sl. No.	Name of Countries	No. of representations received
		2012	2013	2014		2015
1	Afghanistan	Nil	1	Nil		Nil
2.	Bahrain	32	08	01		Nil
3.	Indonesia	Nil
4.	Iraq	Nil	Nil		01		Nil
5.	Jordan	Nil	01	02		1
6.	Kuwait	32	31	35		12
7.	Lebanon	Only 1 for last 3 years
8.	Libya	Nil	01	01		Nil
9.	Malaysia	08	10	02		Nil
10.	Oman	158	120	127		17
11.	Qatar	41	43	40		03
12	Kingdom of Saudi Arabia	363	384	409		84 Upto March
13.	Sudan	Nil	Nil	01		Nil
14.	Sudan (South)	Nil
15.	Syria	Nil
16.	Thailand	Nil
17.	United Arab Emirates	12	11	07		4 Upto 20^thApril
18	Yemen		01