Ravi hopes Pawar will reconsider decision

Ravi hopes Pawar will reconsider decision

Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, on Saturday, said he believed that a seasoned politician like Sharad Pawar will reconsider his move to resign from the Cabinet.

Speaking to the media after opening the Pravasi Suraksha Yojana Centre here, Ravi said he hoped that the Prime Minister will hold a meeting with the NCP chief and clear the air on speculations that Pawar may quit the Cabinet along with his partymate and Heavy Industries Minister Praful Patel.

When asked about the activities of sex rackets which are trafficking women through airports, Ravi said that the ministry is planning to launch more preventive steps.

“Usually these women travel alone and their Visa will be sponsored by some agencies abroad. We are planning to make it mandatory that these women  present enough documents to prove that they are visiting foreign countries as per the request of their close relatives, including father, mother, husband or brother,” he said.

Ravi said that a majority of trafficking cases are reported where women were taken as domestic helps. “Now we have tightened the rules and the sponsors will have to deposit $2,500 if they want to bring somebody for domestic help in overseas countries. Along with that it’s also mandatory that these women are above 30-years-old,” he said.

Regarding the Pravasi Surakhsa Yojana, the minister said that the programme is designed carefully considering the needs of overseas Indian workers.

“Apart from the Kochi enrolment centre, a similar facility is opened at the Protector of Emigrants in Thiruvanathapuram.  Enrolment booths will be opened in two branches of Bank of Baroda in Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram,” he said.

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