ID :
36454
Fri, 12/19/2008 - 09:57
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/36454
The shortlink copeid
Govt to introduce biometric passport system by 2010
New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) With a view to checking human
trafficking, the Government of India plans to introduce
biometric passport system that will include finger-printing,
by 2010, Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said
Thursday.
"We have decided to introduce biometric passport system.
We intend to complete the entire process by 2010," he said
replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour in Rajya
Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament).
Stating that there was a nexus of recruiting agencies and
employers in human trafficking, Mukherjee added that Indian
workers fall for the lure of more money and resort to illegal
migration and end up being harassed and exploited.
"Our policy is whenever the nationality (of the worker
detained by a foreign country for illegal migration) is
identified, we bring them back," he said.
Many illegal migrants destroy their passport and other
identity proof on landing on the foreign soil, making it
difficult to ascertain their nationality and stay on using
liberal immigration rules.
He, however, categorically stated that India was not
sending any "terrorist" to foreign countries using the human
trafficking network. "These (people going illegally from India
to foreign land) are civilians, job seekers... we are not
sending any terrorist or infiltrators into any country."
Government, he said, adopts a multi-pronged approach to
combat trafficking, which encompasses prevention through
stronger law enforcement, rescue and rehabilitation of victims
including through repatriation of those confirmed to be Indian
nationals.
"Whenever cases of trafficking involving foreign
countries come to notice, the matter is promptly taken up for
resolution bilaterally through diplomatic channels," the
External Affairs Minister said.
Answering question on illegal migrants recently caught in
Belgium, Mukhejee said during raids conducted on October 18,
164 individuals were arrested by Belgian authorities.
"Of these, only one has been confirmed to be Indian. No
further nationality details have been made available by the
Belgian authorities."
The Indian national was repatriated, he said.
Mukherjee said there were an estimated over 100,000
illegal Indian migrant workers in western countries including
77,000 in Italy, 10,000 in Germany and 5,000 in Spain. PTI A
trafficking, the Government of India plans to introduce
biometric passport system that will include finger-printing,
by 2010, Union External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said
Thursday.
"We have decided to introduce biometric passport system.
We intend to complete the entire process by 2010," he said
replying to supplementaries during the Question Hour in Rajya
Sabha (Upper House of Indian Parliament).
Stating that there was a nexus of recruiting agencies and
employers in human trafficking, Mukherjee added that Indian
workers fall for the lure of more money and resort to illegal
migration and end up being harassed and exploited.
"Our policy is whenever the nationality (of the worker
detained by a foreign country for illegal migration) is
identified, we bring them back," he said.
Many illegal migrants destroy their passport and other
identity proof on landing on the foreign soil, making it
difficult to ascertain their nationality and stay on using
liberal immigration rules.
He, however, categorically stated that India was not
sending any "terrorist" to foreign countries using the human
trafficking network. "These (people going illegally from India
to foreign land) are civilians, job seekers... we are not
sending any terrorist or infiltrators into any country."
Government, he said, adopts a multi-pronged approach to
combat trafficking, which encompasses prevention through
stronger law enforcement, rescue and rehabilitation of victims
including through repatriation of those confirmed to be Indian
nationals.
"Whenever cases of trafficking involving foreign
countries come to notice, the matter is promptly taken up for
resolution bilaterally through diplomatic channels," the
External Affairs Minister said.
Answering question on illegal migrants recently caught in
Belgium, Mukhejee said during raids conducted on October 18,
164 individuals were arrested by Belgian authorities.
"Of these, only one has been confirmed to be Indian. No
further nationality details have been made available by the
Belgian authorities."
The Indian national was repatriated, he said.
Mukherjee said there were an estimated over 100,000
illegal Indian migrant workers in western countries including
77,000 in Italy, 10,000 in Germany and 5,000 in Spain. PTI A
