Hyderabad, January 9:

As part of a package of measures to protect their interests, India’s migrant workers will get smart cards containing information about them, their employers and insurance within the next three months.

R K Singh, protector general of emigrants in the overseas Indian affairs ministry, told the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conclave today that the move would help in identifying genuine migrant workers and addressing their problems.

Addressing a session on ‘Indians in the Gulf’, Singh announced that round-the-clock helplines would be set up in 13 identified missions in the Gulf to provide assistance to workers in distress. Legal cells would be set up in various countries with the help of the National Legal Aid Authority to provide legal assistance to workers facing labour-related problems.

An overseas workers’ welfare fund is to be set up by using a one-time, lump sum grant from the government or by charging a nominal amount from migrants while granting them emigration clearance. Singh said the coverage under the Pravasi Bharatiya Yojna insurance scheme would be increased from Rs 200,000 Indian currency (IC) to Rs 500,000 IC. The scheme has provision for emergency medical treatment of up to Rs 50,000 IC for workers abroad. There will also be coverage for legal expenses of up to Rs 25,000 IC. The insurance company will cover the repatriation of workers for the entire period of employment, he said.

Singh also gave an assurance that the number of visit visas would be controlled to check their misuse. The number of visit visas had already been brought down from 50 per cent to 40 per cent of the total visas issued during the past four years, he noted. He promised to extend all support to the overseas workers resource centre in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)countries to provide aid and support services to migrant workers.

NGOs will be involved as information resource centres for providing advice to potential overseas workers. Pre-departure orientation programmes for the overseas workers would also be started with the help of state governments, he said.