The draft immigration bill, which makes mandatory for the registration/intimation of all categories of Indian nationals moving for higher studies or going for work, is now open for public feedback.
The bill was finalized in a bid to address problems of migrants and as well help regulate the movement of Indians overseas for education or work.
MEA seeks your comments!
We propose to introduce Emigration Bill 2019 replacing the Emigration Act of 1983.
The proposed Bill can be accessed at: https://t.co/1AIWqKxaj6 ….
Send us your comments by 20 Jan! pic.twitter.com/Wp25cSuWol
— Indian Diplomacy (@IndianDiplomacy) January 16, 2019
The bill comes a week after the special appeal was made to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) by the Indian parliament standing committee to complete drafting of the proposed legislation. The central feature of the new act would be the establishment of Emigration Management Authority to oversee the welfare of emigrants.
The Authority would be a multi-ministry agency led by a joint secretary to handle operational matters with representatives from the ministries of Home and Human Resources and also states. The new legislation intents to create nodal offices in all states.
“It will be the overarching authority to provide policy guidance, undertaking comprehensive review and stocktaking on emigration management related matters,” the MEA said.
The MEA came faced flak for excessive delay in getting the legislation going. In its report, the standing committee said, “If the country of origin is negligent about its duties towards its migrant workers, how can we have expectations from the destination countries?”
A digital platform would be set up to keep the emigration process without bother.
The National Democratic Alliance government had set up a portal to assist Indian workers abroad, especially in the Gulf countries. The current Act deals chiefly with Indian workers going to the Gulf.
-Sowmya Sangam
