Welfare Fund for NRIs

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has set up the ‘Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)’ in the Indian Missions in 42 countries to provide on-site welfare for the Overseas Indian Citizens (NRIs and PIOs) who are in distress. The welfare services provided by the ICWF include 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, 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. The ICWF is funded through service charges levied by the Indian Missions on consular services, voluntary contributions from the Indian community and budgetary support from the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.

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

PKM