Major Achievements in respect of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs for the year 2015
Major Achievements in
respect of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs for the year 2015
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YEAR-END REVIEW 2015
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The 13th Edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD)
Convention was held successfully at Mahatma Mandir Convention Centre,
Gandhinagar, Gujarat from 7 – 9 January, 2015. This year’s PBD was special
being the centenary year of the return of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to
India. The Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports was the Partner Ministry for
the PBD 2015 and Gujarat was the partner State. H.E Donald Ramotar, the Hon’ble
President of Guyana was the Chief Guest of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held at
Gandhinagar in January, 2015. Maite Nkoana Mashabane, Minister of International
Relations and Cooperation was the Guest of Honour of the PBD-2015.
Hon’ble Prime Minister during the Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas (PBD) held in
Gujarat from 7-9 January, 2015 announced the starting of an Online Quiz titled
‘Bharat Ko Janiye’ for imparting knowledge on India among the Diaspora children
and youth. The quiz was launched by Hon’ble Minister for Overseas Indian
Affairs on 24th Nov 2015. This online quiz programme on India has been arranged
for NRI / PIO and others to get an all-round understanding on India.
9th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (RPBD) Convention was organized by
MOIA in Los Angeles, USA from 14th - 15th November 2015 for interaction &
discussion with Indian Diaspora to ensure their connectivity with their
ancestral motherland as well to know their expectations & concerns.
(a)
The Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) (a PPP between Ministry of
Overseas Indian Affairs and CII) in July 2015 decided that the OIFC will
undertake enhanced and sustained engagement with overseas Indians in a
proactive manner, with special emphasis on the young Diaspora, and engagement
with the State Governments in India.
(b) The Overseas
Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) organised the Indian Diaspora Business
Meeting in Los Angeles on 14th November 2015 on the side-lines
of 9th Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas – Los Angeles, USA.
This Ministry played a leading role in the repatriation of Indian
nationals from Yemen with funding through the Indian Community Welfare Fund. A
total of 5600 Indians were evacuated with the active involvement of various
Ministries that was coordinated by MEA.
For the period from January to September 2015 Know India Programme (KIP)
were conducted in the state of Gujarat, Goa and Punjab. A separate KIP for
Francophone countries has also been started this year from 6th January
to 26thJanuary, 2015.
With a view to meet the objectives of “Minimum Government, Maximum
Governance”, MOIA has, with effect from 16 January, 2015 started issuing
Electronic clearance through the e-Migrate portal and stopped the affixing of
ECR stickers on the passports from that date. This electronic clearance is also
available on the data base of the Bureau of Immigration at all their Check
Posts. This has made the Emigration Clearance process simpler, easier and less
time consuming for the emigrant.
(a) The Emigration
Act, 1983 provides for registration of Recruiting Agents, to recruit Emigration
Clearance Required (ECR) passport holders going to ECR countries on employment
visa. The Rules in this regards provide for security in the form of Bank
Guarantee to be provided by the Recruiting Agents, as a part of the process of
the registration. The security amount has been enhanced from Rs. 20.00 lakhs to
Rs.50.00 lakhs vide Gazette Notification dated 21/09/2015.
(b) Joint Consultative
Committee Meeting between India and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was held on 12th –
13thOctober, 2015 to discuss various issues relating to the
Agreement on Labour Cooperation for Domestic Service Workers (DSW) recruitment
between India and Saudi Arabia and welfare of emigrants.
This Ministry and Government of Tamil Nadu set up in June 2015, a
Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in Chennai, to provide intending migrant workers
information on all aspects of overseas employment. The MRC in Chennai is the
fourth such MRC in India, set up by the MOIA.
E-Office, a digital filing system, introduced in October, 2015, has been
made operational in the Ministry. The system was officially launched on
01/10/2015 as a Good-governance initiative. All new files are being
generated through e-office. The processing time has been reduced substantially
and while ensuring transparency and accountability.
(a) IDF-OI held
its 4th Board Meeting on 23rd May 2015 and 5th Board
Meeting on 5th December 2015 chaired by Hon’ble Minister of
Overseas Indian Affairs and Chairperson, IDF-OI.
(b) IDF-OI held a
successful outreach from 15-16 October 2015 in three cities of UAE- Abu Dhabi,
Sharjah and Dubai to showcase its projects and invite the Diaspora to make
contributions. NRIs and PIOs gave commitments to support flagship programmes
such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Clean Ganga Mission.
The 3rd SIP was conducted from 3rd January, 2015 to 3rd February, 2015
by the Symbiosis University. 18 Overseas students from South Africa
participated in this programme.
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