The government is considering to open a Protector of Emigrants office, PoE, in Bengaluru. Inaugurating the 7th Heads of Indian Missions,HOMs, in New Delhi today Overseas Indian Affairs minister Vayalar Ravi said, a PoE office at Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh is ready for operation and another one in Guwahati would be functional soon.

Mr Ravi announced revised Indian Community Welfare Fund, ICWF, scheme which includes, assistance towards boarding expenses per head by HOMs is enhanced from 15 to 30 days. It includes payment of penalties in respect of Indian nationals for illegal stay in the host country where prima facie the worker is not at fault. It also envisages providing support to start and run overseas Indian community-based student welfare centres in countries having more than 20,000 Indian students’ presence.

Mr Ravi called upon the HoMs to give special attention to Overseas Indians, particularly workers and address their concerns. He also asked them to cooperate in the implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana which provides the overseas Indian workers pension, a sum for return and resettlement and life insurance for a period of five years. The Minister also mentioned that Government has given the voting rights to NRIs.