**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1042 in the Lok Sabha regarding the challenges faced by Indian citizens abroad. Answered on December 5, 2025, it details the Government of India's awareness of these challenges and the steps taken to strengthen consular support and safeguard the interests of Indians overseas. The document outlines measures implemented by Indian Missions/Posts abroad.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Government Priorities:**
* The safety, security, and well-being of Indian nationals living in foreign countries is a top priority.
* Indian Missions/Posts abroad are vigilant in monitoring incidents affecting Indian nationals.
* Incidents are addressed with host country authorities to ensure proper investigation and justice.
* **Complaint Resolution:**
* Indian Missions/Posts receive complaints, especially from domestic sector workers, about poor working conditions, unpaid salaries, and denial of benefits.
* Complaints also involve contract violations and illegal migration.
* Actions include contacting foreign employers/sponsors, local government, and recruiting agents for redressal.
* **Consular Assistance:**
* Indian Missions/Posts provide consular assistance as needed.
* Nationals can contact Missions/Posts via walk-ins, email, social media, 24/7 helplines, and grievance portals like MADAD and CPGRAMS.
* Legal aid is provided where needed, maintaining local panels of lawyers.
* Financial assistance is available via the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) on a means-tested basis.
* Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras (PBSKs) in Dubai, Sharjah, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Kuala Lumpur also assist distressed nationals.
* Advisories are issued to Indian nationals to exercise caution.
**Impact Analysis**
**Indian Nationals Abroad**
* **Impact**
* Ensured safety and security, with mechanisms for addressing grievances and providing assistance in distress.
* Access to consular support, legal aid, and financial assistance in foreign countries.
* **Action Required**
* Utilize available resources such as Indian Missions/Posts, helplines, and online portals to report issues and seek assistance.
* Exercise caution and remain vigilant as advised by the Government.
**Indian Missions/Posts Abroad**
* **Impact**
* Responsible for monitoring incidents, addressing complaints, and providing consular assistance.
* Required to maintain contact with foreign employers/sponsors, local government, and recruiting agents.
* **Action Required**
* Continue to be vigilant in monitoring incidents affecting Indian nationals.
* Provide necessary consular assistance and resolve grievances promptly.
* Maintain a local panel of lawyers and utilize the ICWF to provide assistance.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of External Affairs: The primary Indian government entity responsible for addressing challenges faced by Indians abroad.
Indian Missions/Posts abroad: Indian diplomatic missions responsible for providing consular assistance and safeguarding the interests of Indian nationals overseas.
Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF): A fund set up in Indian Missions/Posts abroad to provide financial assistance to distressed Indian nationals.
MADAD, CPGRAMS: Grievance redressal portals for Indian nationals abroad.
Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras (PBSKs): Centres set up to provide assistance to distressed Indian nationals abroad, specifically mentioned in Dubai, Sharjah, Riyadh, Jeddah and Kuala Lumpur.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO- 1042
ANSWERED ON- 05/12/2025
CHALLENGES FACED BY INDIANS ABROAD
1042. SHRI ZIA UR REHMAN
Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether the Government has taken note of the increasing
challenges faced by Indian citizens abroad, including issues related to
safety, employment conditions and legal assistance; and
(b) if so, the details of the steps being taken to strengthen consular
support mechanisms and to safeguard the interests of Indians
overseas?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) The safety, security and well being of Indian nationals living in
foreign countries is one of the foremost priorities of the Government of
India. Indian Missions/Posts abroad remain vigilant and closely monitor
1any untoward incidents affecting Indian nationals abroad. Such
incidents are immediately taken up with the concerned authorities of
the host country to ensure that the cases are properly investigated and
the perpetrators are brought to justice as per their domestic laws.
Indian Missions/Posts abroad receive complaints from Indian workers,
particularly domestic sector workers, on account of poor working
conditions, non-payment or delay in payment of salaries and denial of
other benefits such as medical facilities, refusal of leave or denial of
exit/re-entry permits for visits to India, denial of final exit visas to the
workers to return to India after completion of the contract, ill-treatment
by the employers etc. Incidents of confinement, physical abuse,
abandoning of housemaids by their sponsors have also been reported.
Most of the complaints pertain to workers, who do not have proper
employment contracts and have migrated illegally, in violation of
Government norms for recruitment of ECR workers from India.
On receipt of complaints of exploitation from Indian workers, the Indian
Missions/Posts abroad, including in the Gulf and South-East Asian
countries, promptly take action including reaching out to the foreign
employers/sponsors/local Government authorities as well as the
Recruiting Agents for redressal of the complaint.
2(b) Indian Missions/Posts abroad render all possible consular assistance
to the Indian nationals, whenever required. Indian nationals can
contact the Indian Missions/Posts abroad via walk-ins, email, social
media platforms, 24x7 emergency telephone numbers and Toll Free
Helplines established by Missions/Posts abroad, grievance redressal
portals like MADAD, CPGRAMS etc for prompt redressal of their
grievances. Indian Missions/Posts abroad also assist in providing legal
aid wherever needed. Missions/Posts also maintain a local panel of
lawyers where Indian community is in sizeable numbers. Indian
nationals who are in distress in foreign countries, are provided
assistance under the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) set up in
all Indian Missions/Posts abroad to meet any contingency expenditure
incurred by them, on a means-tested basis. Besides, Pravasi Bharatiya
Sahayata Kendras (PBSKs) have been set up at Dubai, Sharjah, Riyadh,
Jeddah and Kuala Lumpur to provide assistance to distressed Indian
nationals abroad. Advisories are issued for Indian nationals from time
to time, asking them to exercise due caution and remain vigilant. The
Government also remains vigilant to developments impacting the lives
of Indian nationals abroad and takes all measures to safeguard their
interests and welfare.
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