External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today made a statement on the COVID-19 situation and the impact on Indians abroad.
The Minister said, that the Prime Minister had ordered Vande Bharat flights that facilitated return of over 45 lakh persons.
Kerala received the highest number of returnees followed by Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. Highlighting the success of diplomacy of the current government, Dr Jaishankar said that repatriation would not have been possible without the cooperation of partner governments and various agencies. He said, that the government has spent Rs. 33.5 crore from the Indian Community welfare fund.
The Foreign Minister said, India has concluded air bubbles with 27 nations so far, as people and students are returning back. He said, that to help out our citizens sympathetically the Government is also urging partner governments to look at their employment.
He also said that, under the directions from PM, he had interacted with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman.
Jaishankar also mentioned India’s effort of providing food items and medicines in the Gulf region. He said, core of our agenda of all these efforts is to restore the employment of repatriated Indian citizens.
The Foreign Minister said, Seafarers are also a category that requires special attention. He said that crew change rules pose a challenge but even the issues with crew on the Chinese ports have been successfully resolved.
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