(a) whether a number of Indians are still stranded in Iraq due to lack of proper documents and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether many of them had migrated to Iraq illegally and if so. the details thereof: and
(c) the steps taken to bring them back to the country?
MINISTER OF STATE OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS GENERAL (RETD.) SHRI V.K. SINGH
(a), (b) & (c): Most of the Indians deployed to Iraq had gone with valid visa. However, they became illegal residents for non renewal of visa and expiry of residence permit. Indians stranded in Iraq are mainly due to the above reasons.
Mission has been taking up the matter with the foreign employer or the authorities concerned and also issued emergency certificates for safe repatriation of Indian emigrants. The Indian Embassy in Iraq has set up camps in Najaf, Karbala and Basra for continuing the facilitation exercise to help the Indian nationals in leaving Iraq through the commercial routes. Six special flights have so far been arranged out of which one is by Air India and the rest are by Iraqi airlines.
This Ministry has ordered transfer of INR 10 crore from the Indian Community Welfare Fund of Kuwait and INR 6 crore from that of United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Embassy of India (EOI) Baghdad to facilitate smooth return of Indian emigrants. This Ministry in coordination with the Indian Mission in Iraq, Ministry of External Affairs, State Government authorities, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, has made necessary arrangements for ensuring safe repatriation of Indian in Iraq to their respective home(s).