Schemes of Ministry of Overseas Indians Affairs
Major schemes of this ministry are as follows:
Know India Programme (KIP)
This programme is aimed to familiarize the Indian Diaspora youth with their roots. Under this programme, students and young professionals of Indian origin visit India, share their views, expectations and experiences and to know contemporary India.
Study India Programme (SIP)
This programme also targets Indian Diaspora youth but through educational institutions. Its enables Overseas Indian youth to undergo short term courses in an Indian University to familiarize them with the history, heritage, art, culture, socio-political, economic developments etc. of India.
Tracing the Roots
This scheme is running since 2008 to to facilitate PIOs in tracing their roots in India.
Scheme for Legal/ Financial Assistance to Indian Women Deserted / Divorced by their NRI Husbands
Under this programme, the ministry creates awareness amongst prospective brides and their families regarding their rights and responsibilities and the safeguards to be adopted while entering into matrimonial alliances with grooms residing overseas.
Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana
This is a pension and Life Insurance Fund scheme for Overseas Indian workers having Emigration Check Required (ECR) passports. Launched in UAE on 27th October, 2013 to encourage and enable overseas Indian workers and by giving government contribution to save for their Return and Resettlement (R&R), save for their old age, the scheme obtains a Life Insurance cover against natural death during the period of coverage.
e-Migrate Project
This is a comprehensive e-governance project on migration aiming to transform emigration into a simple, transparent, orderly and humane process. The Project is aimed at improving the quality of services to emigrant workers and will help reduce the access cost of service.
Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)
Under this scheme, Indian Government provides various services to distressed, stranded overseas Indians. This fund was set up in 2009 and provides:
- Boarding and lodging for distressed household / domestic sectors and unskilled laborers overseas
- Emergency medical care, air passage to stranded persons, initial legal assistance in case of litigation, airlifting of mortal remains, payment of penalties in case of illegal stay without at fault, payment of small fines/penalties, establish Overseas Indian Community Centers, and any other matters which ministry can decide.
Swarnapravas Yojana {Important}
This scheme focuses on skill development of Indians and make them ready to do job overseas. The objective is to position India as a preferred source country for skilled and trained workers in select sectors that face skill shortages in the international labor market, and in which India enjoys competitive advantage.
