Into its sixth year, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) has taken some fresh initiatives to connect with the overseas Indian community in a more organised and friendlier way.

The fresh initiatives will not only help transform migration manage-ment into an orderly process through appropriate domestic interventions and international cooperation but also extend institutional support for individual initiatives and community action to harness the knowledge, skills and investible resources of overseas Indians. Some of the fresh initiatives launched are:

Bilateral social

security agreements

Initiated by MOIA, the Government has recently entered into Social Security Agreements with the Netherlands, Denmark and Luxembourg. India has already signed SSAs with France, Belgium and Germany while agreements have been concluded with the Czech Republic, Hungary, Norway and Canada and are expected to be signed soon. Social Security Agreements (SSA) eliminate double payment of social security contributions, exempt detached workers from host country legislation, enable portability of pension and prevent loss of benefits by providing for totalisation of contribution periods.

Bilateral Labour MoUs

The Ministry has been negotiating bilateral labour MoUs with important destination countries to secure their cooperation in ensuring protection and welfare of the Indian workers. An MoU has been signed with Malaysia to provide facilitation of employment of workers between two countries and protection and welfare of all categories of workers under the labour laws of the host country. Similar MoUs have been signed with Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and the U.A.E., which provide for better protection and welfare of Indian workers in those countries. Efforts are under way to commence negotiations with other major destinations countries also.

PIO/NRI University

The Cabinet has approved the establishment of the PIO/NRI University in Bangalore by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education Trust, Manipal.

A first of its kind, the PIO/NRI university is expected to grow into a world-class institution in the ensuing years. Fifty percent of the seats in the university will be reserved for PIOs while the Indian students will be eligible to seek admission for the remaining seats. The University will also help in developing comprehensive bilateral links with India through the active association of the Diaspora.

Indian Council

for Overseas Employment

The Indian Council for Overseas Employment (ICOE), a non-profit, has been registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.

The council will serve as a “think tank” for the government on International migration. It will cater to the matters relating to overseas employment markets for Indians and overseas Indian workers. It is expected to give impetus to informed policy making relating to International migration.

India Development Foundation

The India Development Foundation of Overseas Indians (IDF-OI), a not-for-profit Trust, has been established. Headed by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, the foundation provides a credible single window for Diaspora philanthropy through innovative projects. The foundation leads Diaspora philanthropic capital into India’s social sector by forging partnerships between donors and credible non-government and non-profit voluntary organisations working in the social sector in India.

Global Indian Network

of Knowledge

A Global Indian Network of Knowledge (Global-INK) was launched by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh at PBD 2009. The Global-INK serves as an electronic knowledge transfer platform to generate new ideas on issues such as development, education and healthcare.

Labour Mobility Partnership Agreement

It is the policy of the Ministry to diversify the overseas destination base for Indian workers and secure labour market access for them in countries where employment opportunities would emerge in future. For this purpose, the Ministry is pursuing Labour Mobility Partnership agreements with several countries. A mobility partnership has been signed with Denmark. Negotiations are likely to commence with some select member states of the European Union for similar mobility partnerships.

Indian Community Welfare Fund

The ICWF provides funds to the Indian Missions in all the 17 ECR countries to support a wide gamut of welfare services for overseas Indian workers. The welfare services include shelters for run-away/distressed workers, operation of Indian workers resource centres with a 24/7 helpline to provide information and advice to needy workers and providing relief under unforeseen situations.

Overseas Workers’ Resource Centre

An Overseas Workers’ Resource Centre was inaugurated by the Prime Minister at PBD 2008. The OWRC is based in New Delhi and operates a 24/7 helpline to provide information and assistance to potential emigrants and their families.

The helpline provides services in seven languages through toll free access. The OWRC toll-free number is: 1800-11-3090.

Migrant Resource Centre

Migrant Resource Centres have been established in Cochin in Kerala and Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh under the Asia-EU Project on legal migration. The objective of the MRCs is to provide information and counselling services to potential migrants seeking employment in overseas countries. Similar MRCs are going to be established in other parts of the country in a phased manner.

E-governance Project

A project has been taken up by MOIA to transform the emigration process through e-governance. The project is being implemented through the National Institute of Smart Government, Hyderabad. The NISG will carry out systems review, business process re-engineering, preparation of bid documents and supervision of implementation of e-Governance.

Under the project, an integrated process will be developed linking all stakeholders and defining parameters and standards for each component of the process at the level of every stakeholder.

The project is likely to be completed by 2010.