Welfare Fund for Overseas Workers

Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has set up the ‘Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)’ in the Indian Missions in 17 Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) Countries and Maldives to provide on-site welfare for the Overseas Indian Citizens who are in distress. The Fund (ICWF) is aimed at providing the following services on a means tested basis in the most deserving cases:

(i) Boarding and lodging for distressed overseas Indian workers in Household / domestic sectors and unskilled labourers;
(ii) Extending emergency medical care to the overseas Indians in need;
(iii) Providing air passage to stranded overseas Indians in need;
(iv) Providing initial legal assistance to the overseas Indians in deserving cases.
(v) Expenditure on incidentals and for airlifting the mortal remains to India or local cremation/burial of the deceased overseas Indian in such 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 budgetary support from the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, funds raised by the Indian Missions by levying service charge on Consular services and through Voluntary contributions from the Indian community. The Fund is administered by the respective Heads of Missions.

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

PKM