(a) whether incidents of suicides being committed by Indians working and living abroad particularly in the Gulf countries is on the rise during the last three years;
(b) if so, the details thereof, year and country-wise;
(c) whether the Government has acquired information about all such incidents from the countries concerned;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the assistance provided/facilities of counselling available in the Missions/Posts abroad to such Indians in distress?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS
GENERAL V.K. SINGH (RETD.)
(a) to (d): As per information received from 164 Indian Missions/ Posts in respect of 142 countries including Gulf Countries by 4th December, 2015, the data on number of Indians working and living abroad who have committed suicide during 2013, 2014 and 2015 is given in the Annexure. The figures do not show any significant increase over the years. The information is acquired by the Indian Missions from different sources such as the local authorities, family members, etc.
(e): In order to provide assistance to distressed Indians, the Missions/ Posts have provided the following facilities and assistance:
• Embassy officials regularly undertake visits to various places in order to provide necessary assistance to Indians in distress in deportation centres, jails, labour camps, etc.
• 24x7 Helplines are operated by some of the Indian Missions at the Embassy premises. Missions also take up the matter with the local authorities for resolution of their problems.
• The Ministry of External Affairs has launched an online Consular Grievances Monitoring System, named MADAD, on 21 February 2015, to extend a helping hand to Indians abroad requiring consular assistance. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) work together to address complaints received through MADAD.
• The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is used for providing relief and assistance to the needy Indians in distress, including for repatriation to India, for meeting expenditure on dispatch of mortal remains in deserving cases, for providing emergency medical treatment to destitute Indians, etc.