New Delhi, Sep 9 (Inditop.com) A seven-point action plan to stop illegal migration to other countries has been agreed upon following a two-day consultation meeting between the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and the state governments that ended here Wednesday.
The plan seeks to notify a focal point at least at the level of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to tackle illegal migration, to launch awareness campaign at the grassroots level and to identify high-risk prone areas – districts/talukas – for focused attention, and to start institutional efforts through district police to gather intelligence on intermediaries and middlemen who foster illegal immigration.
The other points are: to enforce in a prompt and effective manner database of cases that are closely monitored, to build capacity amongst officers at the airports/ district/NGOs and at the MOIA level, and to set up a standing core group that will meet regularly to review the action plan.
According to the ministry release, there was a consensus that the state governments and the MOIA need to make concerted efforts to resolve issues relating to overseas Indians as well as prospective emigrants.
“State governments shall establish a nodal contact in each district with a coordinator in the state capital for dealing with the issues of emigration, diaspora, enforcement of Emigration Act etc., and shall communicate the details thereof to the MOIA,” the release said.
“State governments shall forward the list of specific problems faced by them, enabling the MOIA to take up the issues at inter-ministerial consultations and states to identify state-specific strengths and prepare an action plan for training and certification, involving private partnership,” it added.
The second annual consultation meeting was attended by senior officials from 16 state governments and representatives of the central government ministries, including those for home affairs, external affairs and labour.
The meeting also invited the states to participate in the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2010, the annual conclave of the Indian diaspora.
