11-Aug-2021: Policy on Illegal Migrants
All foreign nationals, including those who enter into the country without valid travel documents or overstay beyond the validity of their visa period, are governed by the provisions contained in The Foreigners Act, 1946, The Registration of Foreigners Act, 1939, The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 & The Citizenship Act, 1955, and rules and orders made thereunder. Exemptions are given from the provisions of The Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 and the Foreigners Act, 1946 on a case-to-case basis.
Some illegal migrants sneak into India in a clandestine and surreptitious manner mainly through difficult mountainous and riverine terrains along the international borders. Central Government has adopted a multi-pronged approach to ensure effective surveillance and domination of land borders to check infiltration of illegal migrants. Physical infrastructure in the form of border fencing, floodlighting, construction of border roads and establishment of border outposts has been created. Vulnerable border outposts are regularly reviewed and strengthened by deploying additional manpower, special surveillance equipments and other force multipliers. A technological solution in the form of Comprehensive Integrated Border Management System (CIBMS) has been implemented in some vulnerable border areas. Border guarding forces conduct regular patrolling, lay nakas and establish observation posts and carry out anti-tunnelling exercises to stop illegal infiltration. Central Government has issued advisory to Border Security Force and Assam Rifles to maintain strict vigilance and surveillance and to take all possible steps for preventing illegal infiltration at International Borders.
9-Aug-2021: Infiltration attempts at The International Border
As per the report of Security Forces/Ministry of Home Affairs, the number of infiltration cases and number of infiltrators who were killed and apprehended during 2021 (upto 30.06.2021) are as under:-
|
S. No. |
Name of Border |
Infiltration Attempts |
Infiltrators killed |
Infiltrators apprehended |
|
1. |
Indo-Pakistan Border |
33 |
11 |
20 |
|
2. |
Indo-Bangladesh Border |
441 |
1 |
740 |
In addition, 11 illegal infiltrators along Indo-Nepal Border have been apprehended in this year (upto 30.06.2021). No cases of infiltration have been reported at Indo-China Border. At the Indo-Myanmar Border, post military coup which came into effect from 01.02.2021, 8486 Myanmar nationals/refugees crossed over into India, out of which 5796 were pushed back and 2690 are still in India.
Infiltrators apprehended by the Border Guarding Forces are handed over to the concerned State Police.
26-Mar-2021: Four Point Plan chalked out by the department of Commerce to deal with Blockage of Suez Canal
A Four-point plan has been chalked out to deal with the situation arising from the blockage of Suez Canal. This plan was chalked out in a meeting convened by the Logistics Division, Department of Commerce, Government of India today. The meeting was chaired by Shri Pawan Agarwal, Special Secretary (Logistics) and attended by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, ADG Shipping, Container Shipping Lines Association (CSLA) and Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO).This plan includes –
- Prioritisation of cargo: FIEO, MPEDA and APEDA will jointly identify cargo particularly perishable cargo for priority movement and work with the shipping lines for the same.
- Freight Rates: CSLA assured that the freight rates as per existing contracts will be honoured. A request has been made to the shipping lines to maintain stability in freight rates during the period of this crisis. It was noted that the situation is temporary and is unlikely to have a long-lasting impact.
- Advisory to Ports: Once the blockage is over, it is expected that some bunching may take place, especially at the ports of JNPT, Mundra and Hazira. Ministry of Ports, Shipping and waterway assured to issue an advisory to these ports so as to gear up arrangements and ensure efficient handling during the forthcoming busy period.
- Re-routing decisions: Shipping lines were advised through CSLA to explore the option of re-routing of ships via the Cape of Good Hope. It was pointed that such re-routing usually takes 15 additional days’ time.
Blockage of Suez Canal since 23rdMarch 2021 is seriously hitting the global trade. This route is used for Indian exports/imports worth US$ 200 Bn to/from North America, South America and Europe. It includes petroleum goods, organic chemicals, iron & steel, automobile, machinery, textiles & carpets, handicrafts including furniture, leather goods, etc.
It was noted in the meeting that over 200 vessels are waiting on the North and South sides of the Suez Canal and about 60 vessels are getting added to the queue on a daily basis. If two more days are taken before the efforts result in clearance of the canal (digging on both sides, extra barges being added on every high tide, tugboats, etc. to straighten the stuck vessel), the total backlog created would be about 350 vessels. It is estimated that this backlog should take about a week’s time to clear out. It was decided in the meeting to closely monitor the situation.