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 management 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:

India-US Totalisation Agreement

Exploratory talks were held with the U.S. Social Security Administration on the India-U.S. Totalisation Agreement on May 19-20, 2010. Both sides agreed to exchange data.

Labour Mobility Partnership

The first meeting of the Joint Working Group under the MoU signed on Labour Mobility Partnership between India and Denmark was held at Copenhagen on June 8-9, 2010. Possibilities of bilateral cooperation in facilitating mobility of workers between the two countries were discussed.

A delegation from India visited Brussels on October 22, 2010 for a high-level dialogue with European Union on signing a Labour Mobility Partnership Agreement (LMPA) so that other member States of EU could also sign an LMPA.

A delegation from The Netherlands also visited New Delhi from October 25-29, 2010 to discuss a Labour Mobility Partnership Agreement.

Labour MoU

The first meeting of the Joint Committee between India and Oman under the Labour MoU on manpower between the two countries was held in New Delhi on June 24-25 2010. Various issues relating to the protection of Indian workers in Oman, including standardisation of the work contract, were discussed.

Social Security Agreements

Administrative Arrangements for implementation of the Social Security Agreement between India and France were signed in Paris on June 30, 2010.

A delegation from the Portuguese Republic visited India for negotiations on the proposed SSA from September 8-10, 2010. The next round of negotiations will be held in March 2011 in Lisbon.

A delegation from Finland came to India from October 4-6, 2010 to discuss and finalise the social security agreement.

During the current Financial Year, SSAs were also signed with Hungary, Denmark, Czechoslovakia, Korea and Norway.

A delegation from India visited Vienna on December 9-10, 2010 to discuss features of a Social Security Agreement with Austria.

MOIA Website

For greater transparency and convenience to the public at large, new features have been added to the Ministry’s website at http://poeonline.gov.in/. You can now access details on registered agents.

Interactive Meet

An Interactive meet with investors and professionals among overseas Indians was held in New York in September 2010.

ICOE MoU

The Indian Council of Overseas Employment (ICOE) signed an MoU with the Migration Policy Institute (MPI), Washington, for joint research on migration issues.

Global Advisory Council

The Steering Group on the Prime Minister’s Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians on economic engagement was held on September 23, 2010. The Committee put forward some recommendations on Foreign Direct Investments and Foreign Investment Promotion Board for PIO/OCI cardholders to bring them on a par with NRIs. A Steering Group meeting on Social Sector Development and Philanthropy, Knowledge Transfer, and Science & Technology was held on September 24, 2010 to give its recommendations on diasporic philanthropic activities in India; the role of the University Grants Commission; and knowledge transfer.

Illegal Migration

The second Core Group meeting on prevention of illegal migration was held on October 11, 2010. Major labour exporting states, such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan participated in the deliberations. The third Consultation Meeting with major labour exporting states was held on October 29-30, 2010 at the India Habitat Centre. Representatives of 16 states, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Home Affairs, among others, attended the meeting. Some key recommendations regarding the setting up of a Pravasi Bharatiya Bhawan and a single focal point to be set up by state governments for redress of grievances were made.

Heads of Missions Conference

The Fifth Conference of the Heads of Missions of GCC countries, along with other major labour destination countries, was held in Vigyan Bhawan on November 29-30, 2010. The meeting was attended by 11 Missions and major labour exporting states. Important decisions for the welfare of labour in those countries were taken in the meeting.

e-Migrate Project

An implementation agency has been selected for the e-Migrate project. The e-Migrate project when implemented will collate data of professionals, students and migrant workers going abroad for work. At present, no data about professionals going abroad for work or students going for studies abroad are available.

Overseas Workers Resource Centre

The Centre is being expanded with a new service provider having been selected. The new OWRC will have an SMS facility, a website and an interactive portal. All these facilities will be provided free of cost.

An OWRC was inaugurated in Dubai by the President of India on November 23, 2010. It has a helpline where workers can seek information and legal assistance. It will also help set up a shelter for workers who are in distress.

Know India Programme

The 15th Know India Programme was held from September 10-26, 2010. Twenty-eight participants from nine countries participated. A two-week programme to Assam and Meghalaya was arranged to acquaint the PIO students about India and its culture. This was followed by a visit to Delhi.