There has been some criticism on the Embassy charging KD 0.500 on passport and attestation services towards the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) w.e.f. 27 January 2014. The criticism relates to the intentions behind charging this fee, its accounting procedure, the manner of its collection and the criteria for its utilization. In this regard, the Embassy of India would like to clarify that these concerns are unfounded. While the Embassy welcomes constructive criticism from our community, the following clarifications are given on the subject for the benefit of all.
(i) Background
There is a large expatriate Indian community in the Gulf region, majority of them belonging to the low income group, i.e., domestic workers and unskilled labour. There are often circumstances when our low income group Indians come under tremendous distress and are not able to meet their expenses or their sponsors refuse to pay these expenses. There was genuine need for the urgent Government of India intervention in these cases out of humanitarian considerations. The expatriate Indian community had in fact demanded setting up of a welfare fund to help such group of people.
(ii) Objectives
To help destitute Indians abroad under distress through the ICWF by providing financial assistance to such individuals in cases like airlifting the mortal remains, airlifting critical medical cases, initial legal assistance, and providing financial assistance to stranded Indians in Kuwait.
Government of India established fund
a) The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) has been approved by the Government of India (GOI) and was established as per the orders of Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA), India w.e.f. 01 December 2008 for meeting the expenses like lifting of mortal remains, airlifting to India in extreme medical transfer, initial legal assistance, etc to the distressed and destitute Indians specially those in domestic and unskilled sectors. The details are available under emigration services on MOIA website.
b) The MOIA, based on strength of Indian expatriate community, started the ICWF in all Indian Embassies in the Gulf region with an initial grant Rs 15 lakhs each. After three years, this fund was to be self-sustained by the Mission by collecting a nominal fee towards ICWF on various types of consular, labour, and attestation services provided by the Mission.
c) The rates for this nominal fee was also fixed by the GOI i.e. Rs. 100/- per document, which comes out to be KD 0.500 (rounded off to nearest hundred Kuwaiti fills.)
d) The GOI guidelines do not provide any category of individuals who can be exempted from this nominal fee. Hence, it is charged across the board.
(iii) Accounts
1. There is a proper bank account for handling the ICWF in the Embassy. The daily collection is deposited in the concerned bank account on next working day. Being the Government of India fund, it is properly audited and annual reports are sent to concern Ministries.
2. There is proper arrangement in the software which provides for the amount collected under this head and it is mentioned in the receipt. The same is given to the applicant while accepting any service in consular and labour section.
(iv) Expenditure
1. The amount collected under ICWF is meant for helping the low income group expatriate Indian community who are under distress. Almost a decade now the Embassy has been helping destitute Indians. In the year 2013, Embassy incurred an expenditure of KD 35,899/- under following mentioned details:
|
Description
|
Number
|
Amount in KD
|
|
Air ticket to Destitute workers
|
218
|
14,205
|
|
· Incidental money (for shelter inmates)
· Incidental money (some deportation inmates)
|
576
319
|
11,416
5,600
|
|
· Airlifting hospitalized Indian to India
· Escort Duty (for above patients)
|
6
4
|
1,292
(Total)
|
|
Airlifting mortal remains to India
|
24
|
2,917
|
|
Basic amenities to female jail inmates
|
27
|
62
|
|
Miscellaneous Expenses
|
|
407
|
|
Grand Total
|
|
35,899
|
(v) Contribution
It was envisaged that Indian community in Kuwait would contribute voluntarily to augment the fund which is helping low income group Indians. But there has been no voluntary contribution so far from individuals or community/social organization while expectation from the ICWF has increased. The expenditure is increasing with each passing year and it is likely to be KD 50,000/- for the current year 2014.
(vi) Conclusion
There is a need for sustaining the ICWF funds so that all distressed destitute Indians could be helped. Hence, as per the GOI guidelines, the nominal fee of KD 0.500 is charged on all consular & labour services.
