New Delhi, August 20: In a significant decision to help Indians in distress abroad, Government today decided to set up a special fund in 18 missions to meet emergency expenses on providing food, shelter, legal aid and other welfare activities for them.
A meeting of the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, approved setting up of the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), which would be backed by a budgetary support of Rs 480 lakhs for three years, besides resources from charging cess on consular services and donations from the local Indian community.
The proposed fund aims at providing board and lodging for distressed Indian workers in household and domestic sectors and unskilled labourers, emergency medicare and air passage to stranded workers, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said.
–PTI