Facing many requests to bring back the bodies of Indians who die abroad, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) is now setting up a special cell for the purpose. A senior official of the rank of joint secretary will be deputed to act on such requests ?with a sense of urgency?.
Last year, the MEA brought back bodies of about 1,500 Indians who died abroad. This was said to be one of the highest figures in recent years.
Officials said the MEA gets such requests, in the form of letters or phone calls, almost daily. Requests also come from MPs, ministers and state legislators, who forward letters from their constituents. Bulk of the requests are from Kerala and Punjab, mostly dealing with migrant workers in the Gulf countries, UK and Canada.
At present, when the Ministry receives requests for expediting the dispatch of bodies, the matter is taken up with the concerned local authorities through the Indian missions. The bodies are then brought back at the expense of the state exchequer.
But now, the joint secretary in charge of the special cell will take up the matter on a priority basis and directly call up the ambassadors and high commissioners to expedite the necessary clearances. The Indian missions abroad will also be sanctioned funds to transport the bodies quickly.