- Modi Government has been deeply committed to the welfare and protection of Indians abroad: EAM Dr Jaishankar
- A total of 45,82,043 people from 98 countries have returned to India under the aegis of the Vande Bharat Mission.
- 39% of the returnees were workers, 39% were professionals, 6% students, 8% visitors and 4.7% stranded tourists
- The government facilitated the return from India of more than 1.1 lakh foreign passport holders to 120 countries in the same period including many PIOs and NRIs
- Arrangements have been concluded with 27 nations for air transport bubbles, temporary reciprocal arrangements for commercial passenger services
- Air India alone has operated more than 9500 flights, taking 10.9 lakh passengers abroad
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar spoke on recent developments over welfare of Indians abroad including the NRIs and PIOs during the pandemic in the Lok Sabha earlier today.
Highlighting the government efforts, Dr Jaishankar said that the effort involved the Ministries of External Affairs, Civil Aviation, Home Affairs, Health, Defence and Shipping, amongst others. A total of 45,82,043 people from 98 countries have returned to India under the aegis of the Vande Bharat Mission. 39% of the returnees were workers, 39% were professionals, 6% students, 8% visitors and 4.7% stranded tourists, he informed.
The government facilitated the return from India of more than 1.1 lakh foreign passport holders to 120 countries in the same period including many PIOs and NRIs, he informed the ok Sabha.
Indian Embassies and High Commissions ensured that Indians were provided the necessary amenities in foreign countries including food, shelter and transportation to supplying masks, PPEs, medical support and even facilitating hospital stays. Government expended an amount of Rs. 33.5 crores from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) for the purpose, he said.
The largest repatriation exercise in the history of the world could not have happened without the goodwill and cooperation of partner governments. The enormous effort was the result of this Government’s diplomacy, starting from the Prime Minister personally, he said.
Speaking on the efforts to take Indians back to their usual places of work, study and domicile, EAM said arrangements have been concluded with 27 nations for air transport bubbles that are temporary reciprocal arrangements for commercial passenger services until the resumption of regular international flights. The Air India group alone has operated more than 9500 flights, taking 10.9 lakh passengers abroad. The largest numbers, not surprisingly, have gone to the Gulf, he informed.
The welfare of students studying abroad has also been of particular concern he said. Across the world, our embassies have been given instructions to reach out to them, monitor their situation and assist their return, where required. As with workers and professionals, the focus has now shifted to their going back to universities. Some countries have been more open in this regard than others, obviously reflecting their particular COVID challenge. This, therefore, remains a high priority and our endeavour will be to encourage an early return to normalcy, Dr Jaishankar said.
In conclusion, he said that from the very beginning, the Modi Government has been deeply committed to the welfare and protection of Indians abroad.
Dr. Niranjan B Poojar 
Balaji Subramanian