A round table conference & workshop was organized by Sri Sanjay Bhattacharya, Secretary (Consular Passport Visa & Overseas Indian Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs, Sri T. Armstrong Changsan, Joint Secretary (Overseas Employment) & Protector General of Emigrants, Sri Abbagani Ramu, Joint Secretary (Overseas Indian Affairs-1) and Chief Administrative Officer of the India Centre for Migration Dr. Surabhi Singh on 4th Dec 2021 in Hyderabad, TG in which APNRTS President Sri Venkat S. Medapati and CEO Sri K. Dinesh Kumar took part.
The purpose of the meeting was to brief and engage the State Governments on the new initiatives taken by Government of India to promote overseas employment opportunities in emerging fields including bilateral agreements signed with various foreign countries. Also, to organize a workshop on the subject with participation of senior officials and other stakeholders from the State Governments in the fields of employment, labour, training, skill development, IT, etc.
Sri Sanjay Bhattacharya briefed about various initiatives of Govt. of India in the fields of skill development like establishing of International Skill Centers to guide potential emigrants on skill tests, upskilling, language & pre-departure orientation. MEA along with India Centre for Migration are working together to keep a track of the shifting dynamics of international labour markets and the subsequent skill demands. Sri T. Armstrong Changsan discussed on various ways of migration and the migration trends over the last few years from India to GCC countries. Sri Abbagani Ramu spoke on safe & smart migration along with updating on general trends of migration from AP and Telangana in the last 03 years, projected sector wise demand in the GCC countries for next 05 years, emigration clearances given from 2012 etc. Dr. Surabhi Singh explained about the potential employment opportunities in new emerging destinations like the UK, Europe, Canada, Australia etc. for overseas employment, Institutional arrangements like Migration Mobility Partnership Agreements (MMPA) & Labour Mobility Agreements (LMA) between India and countries like the GCC, UK, France, Portugal, Jordan etc., Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) between India and Japan for ‘Specified Skilled Workers’ Program for potential opportunities in Japan.
Sri Venkat Medapati described about various welfare and development services offered to the NRTs and migrants by APNRTS on behalf of Govt. of Andhra Pradesh under the leadership of Hon’ble CM Sri Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy garu. Sri Sanjay Bhattacharya was amazed to know free services for migrants offered by GoAP through APNRTS. He was very impressed and praised the functioning especially of the services offered under Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) in helping the migrants from the Gulf Countries. He lauded APNRTS mechanism of grievance resolution with the help of APNRTS Coordinators network in various countries.
Further, Sri Venkat discussed with the MEA officials on few gaps in the border immigration procedures wherein visitor visa category is being misused by which people are going abroad for work and landing in trouble in the destination countries. He explained the urgency in launching a comprehensive mechanism to keep a track of people going out on visitor visas especially from AP.
Sri Venkat stated about proactive measures of APNRTS in educating the potential migrants about safe migration, pre-departure orientation and consequences of illegal migration through “Safe Migration Awareness Campaigns” in the districts of AP with higher rates of migration. Sri Sanjay Bhattacharya appreciated APNRTS proactive measures in guiding and educating the potential migrants about safe and legal migration. CEO, APNRTS described about various services offered by APNRTS and the number of grievances resolved, calls being received at 24/7 Helpline etc.
Sri Sanjay Bhattacharya encouraged APNRTS to carry on the current good work and desired to expand services further in order to serve the migrants & NRTs. Meeting was organized by Sri Mukesh Kaushik, Protector of Emigrants, Hyderabad Ministry of External Affairs and facilitated by Smt. I. Rani Kumudini, IAS, Spl. Chief Secretary, Department of Labour, Employment Training and Factories, Govt. of Telangana. Smt. B. Lavanya Veni, IAS, Director of Employment & Training attended the workshop from GoAP. Other officials from both states Governments participated in this workshop.