New Delhi, Oct 14 (UNI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that the launch Monday of the eMigrate portal V2.0 is a significant milestone in the government’s efforts to safeguarding the welfare and interests of Indian workers abroad.
In his address at the launch of eMigrate Portal and Mobile App V2.0, EAM Jaishankar said the launch is a testament to the government’s continuing efforts to creating a safer, more transparent, and inclusive mobility for Indian labour in foreign lands.
He said it also aligns with Goal 10 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals which promotes facilitation of orderly, safe, regular, and responsible migration and mobility of people.
EAM Jaishankar said that he and Minister of Labour and Employment, Mansukh Mandaviya have worked very closely on the subject.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi releasing a commemorative postal stamp with the motto ‘Surakshit Jayen, Prashikshit Jayen’, i.e. ‘go safe and go well-trained’, the EAM said that today’s event captures that sentiment, because it is an expression of the government’s commitment to improving ease of living and to enhancing people centric governance.
The revamped version of eMigrate portal is more than just a digital platform – it is actually a beacon of hope, a symbol of our commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of our workers in foreign lands. The enhancements in the portal reflects the new realities and transformations which we all are witnessing insofar as global migration dynamics are concerned, he added.
He said there is global need for workers who have domain-specific knowledge of their field and this need for well-trained workforce in different geographies is going to grow further. “This is clearly reflected in the pace at which we have undertaken negotiations with different countries on migration and mobility since 2015, and also, in how the mobility eco-system of India, itself, has been taking shape,” EAM said.
He said that in the last decade the passport issuance has almost doubled, and “that’s primarily because we view and approach the world today as a global workplace”. “Facilitating those who travel abroad, for studying or who are residing abroad, and looking after their welfare and wellbeing at all times, especially during difficult situations, is today a very central objective of our foreign policy,” the EAM said.
He said the Indian Missions, especially those in the Gulf, have dedicated labour Attaches which ensure redressal of labour and other grievances, and added that the revamped e-Migrate portal also has 24×7 multilingual helpline numbers to attend to issues that they face which requires urgent solutions, in addition to features for registering feedback for redressal.
“In order to expand the outreach of emigration services, an MOU was signed with Common Services Centre (CSC), which is an SPV under the Ministry of Electronic and IT, early this year. Modalities to activate this are being discussed. By enlisting services of CSC, emigration related services will be delivered through more than 5.6 lakh, 560,000 common service centres spread in every nook and corner of India, and that too in regional languages,” he added.
EAM said the e-Migrate Version 2 Portal has been integrated with DigiLocker, which will enable the emigrants to submit various documents for obtaining clearances through DigiLocker in a paperless mode, as well as to store securely, all their important documents like passports, employment contracts.
The portal is also working towards broadening the social security net of emigrants through insurance policies; and the arrangement with State Bank of India for provision of an additional digital payment services with zero transaction charges; creation of a one-stop authentic marketplace for searching job opportunities abroad and for the development of an e-Migrate Mobile App, which has been done for the first time.
He said the launching of the portal is also about unlocking of mutually beneficial opportunities through a symbiotic relationship that will fulfil the requirements of skilled manpower and talent in partner countries, also help Indian talent to secure gainful employment opportunities abroad.
“Government of India shall remain steadfast in the efforts of creating safer and legal channels of emigrating abroad,” EAM said.
He urged all the Ambassadors gathered for the function to turn towards the Indian talent and the demographic dividend that India has to offer, for sourcing workforce requirements in their particular countries.
