Indian Community Welfare Fund

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has set up the ‘Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)’, which is operationalised in the Indian Missions in all the Countries with effect from 24.03.2011 for safeguarding the welfare and protection especially of Indian workers going abroad. The fund aims to provide on-site emergency assistance for the Overseas Indian Citizens, who are in distress. The welfare services provided by the ICWF includes boarding and lodging for distressed household / domestic workers and unskilled labourers, emergency medical care to the overseas Indians in need, providing air passage to stranded overseas Indians in distress, providing initial legal assistance to the overseas Indians in deserving cases and incurring expenditure on incidentals and for airlifting the mortal remains to India or local cremation/burial of the deceased overseas Indians in cases where a sponsor is unable or unwilling to do so as per the contract and the family is unable to meet the cost. At present there is no such proposal to increase the fund meant for that purpose as it is felt that the existing fund being operated by Indian Missions abroad are sufficient for the welfare of the overseas Indians.

This information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Shri Vayalar Ravi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today

PKM