Indian recruitment in conflict zones- Lives and livelihoods

Source: The post Indian recruitment in conflict zones has been created, based on the article “Lives and livelihoods: India must have protocols in place to protect emigrants from conflicts” published in “The Hindu” on 29th February 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 2-International relations-Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora.

News: The article discusses how some Indians were recruited by Russia for the Ukraine war and faced dangers. The Indian government is now trying to help them and is looking to improve its system for Indians working abroad, especially in conflict zones.

What are the issues with Indian emigrants?

Recruitment in Conflict Zones: Indians are being recruited for jobs in conflict areas like Ukraine, often unaware of the risks.

Misled and Exploited: Many Indians are lured by false promises of lucrative jobs and exploited by unscrupulous recruiters charging high fees.

Government’s Late Response: The Indian government only acknowledged the issue after media reports and a death incident.

Economic Distress: Deep economic problems in India push people to seek risky jobs abroad.

What should be done?

Improve Emigration Policies: Review and update the list of “Emigration Check Required” countries for better vetting of contracts for Indians traveling to conflict zones.

Increase Awareness and Guidance: Conduct more awareness campaigns against deceptive job offers and provide better advice for those seeking jobs abroad.

Regional Collaboration: Seek cooperation with countries like Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to combat networks offering unsafe employment opportunities.

Address Recruitment in Conflict Zones: Acknowledge and address the issue of Indians being recruited for roles in conflict zones, as seen in the Ukraine situation.

Strengthen Support and Protection: Implement comprehensive protocols and support structures for Indian emigrants, especially those in dangerous or illegal jobs.

Investigate Exploitative Networks: Probe into the networks of recruiters who mislead Indian job seekers, similar to those involved in the Ukraine recruitment.

Question for practice:

Evaluate the effectiveness of the Indian government’s response to the challenges encountered by Indian emigrants, particularly those recruited for roles in conflict zones such as Ukraine.