The Ministry of External Affairs and the Rajasthan government have jointly organised the ‘Videsh Sampark – State Outreach Conference’ to promote safe and legal overseas migration…reports Asian Lite News Desk
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Rajasthan government jointly organised the ‘Videsh Sampark – State Outreach Conference’ to promote safe and legal overseas migration, strengthen diaspora engagement and create awareness about protection against fraudulent recruitment agents.
Held at the Rajasthan International Centre on Thursday, the conference brought together senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, state government departments, Rajasthan Police, authorised recruitment agencies and other stakeholders to discuss measures for improving overseas mobility and welfare for Rajasthanis.
The conference was held under the theme, “Rajasthanis should go abroad safely and with proper training”, and featured an inaugural session, two thematic sessions and a valedictory session, during which participants outlined key outcomes and a future roadmap.
Addressing the inaugural session, Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas said the Indian government has significantly strengthened its engagement with the Indian diaspora in recent years.
He said the enthusiastic participation of overseas Indians during the Prime Minister’s foreign visits reflected the strong bond between the government and the diaspora.
Recalling the Vande Bharat Mission during the Covid-19 pandemic, Srinivas said the initiative demonstrated the government’s commitment to the welfare of Indians living abroad.
He added that procedures for overseas employment and higher education have been streamlined, passport issuance has become more efficient and police verification timelines have been significantly reduced.
Srinivas said the Rajasthan government also maintains regular engagement with the Rajasthani diaspora and announced that Pravasi Rajasthani Diwas would be celebrated on December 10 with a major event bringing together Rajasthanis from across India and abroad.
According to him, the event will strengthen ties between the global Rajasthani community and their home state while promoting opportunities in investment, innovation, culture and development.
Sripriya Ranganathan, Secretary (Consular, Passport and Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said the government remains committed to making overseas travel for employment and education simpler and safer.
She said the ‘Videsh Sampark’ initiative, launched in 2017, aims to create awareness about legal migration pathways and protect citizens from fraudulent recruitment agents through close cooperation with state governments.
Ranganathan added that, in partnership with the Rajasthan government, awareness campaigns on safe migration would be expanded to rural areas. She also said accurate data on overseas migrants from Rajasthan would be compiled to further improve migration-related services.
Rajasthan Director General of Police Rajiv Sharma said the state police was working closely with all concerned departments to strengthen safe and transparent overseas migration mechanisms.
He assured that Rajasthanis facing difficulties abroad could approach the Rajasthan Police for assistance and support.
The first thematic session focused on diaspora engagement, welfare and protection, passport services, issues concerning Indian students studying overseas and matters related to the expatriate Rajasthani community.
Ankan Banerjee, Joint Secretary (Diaspora Engagement) in the Ministry of External Affairs, highlighted the government’s initiatives to strengthen engagement with the Indian diaspora.
Bhaskar A. Sawant, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), discussed challenges faced by overseas Rajasthanis, including matrimonial disputes and issues affecting students abroad.
Regional Passport Officer Vipul Dev outlined recent improvements in passport services, while Tarun Kumar, Under-Secretary (Consular, Passport and Visa) in the Ministry of External Affairs, presented government initiatives relating to diaspora welfare, consular assistance, citizenship verification and grievance redressal mechanisms.
The second thematic session focused on safe and legal migration, skill development, overseas employment opportunities, investment promotion and tourism.
Participants discussed measures to improve awareness, strengthen skill readiness for international employment, promote ethical recruitment practices and enhance coordination among government agencies and stakeholders to facilitate safe overseas mobility for Rajasthanis.
The conference was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Rajasthan government, representatives of 20 authorised recruitment agencies, Additional District Magistrates from 16 districts, representatives from the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), industry bodies and other stakeholders.
Presidents and representatives of 40 Rajasthan Foundation chapters also participated virtually. The Department of NRI Affairs (DORA) and the Rajasthan Foundation served as the nodal agencies for organising the event.
