The Ministry of External Affairs’ proposal to establish nine One-Stop Centres (OSCs) has received approval from the Empowered Committee of the Ministry of Women and Child Development. These centres aim to provide comprehensive assistance to women in vulnerable situations, addressing their immediate needs and offering critical support.
Out of the nine proposed OSCs, seven will include shelter homes and will be set up in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia (with centres in both Jeddah and Riyadh). The remaining two centres, located in Toronto and Singapore, will operate without shelter home facilities. To facilitate the rollout of these initiatives, the Ministry of External Affairs has opened a dedicated budget line for these missions.
The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), already operational in Indian Missions and Posts worldwide, will play a vital role in extending welfare measures to distressed Indian nationals, particularly women. Since its guidelines were comprehensively revised in September 2017, the ICWF has significantly expanded its scope to address a wide range of issues faced by overseas Indians.
The fund now covers emergency assistance such as boarding and lodging, air travel for those stranded, legal aid, medical care, and the repatriation of mortal remains.
Recognizing the unique challenges faced by Indian women abroad, the ICWF guidelines include specific provisions for legal assistance and counselling for women abandoned by their overseas Indian or foreign spouses.
Legal panels have also been established in countries with large Indian diasporas to provide timely and efficient support. In cases involving minor legal infractions, the fund allows for the payment of fines to secure the release of Indian nationals.