Kerala - Kochi   

A centre to help overseas workers

KOCHI: Just take a look at the case register of the emigration authorities in the State’s airports. While those slapped with charges include fraudsters, the number of innocents who are forced to commit forgery out of their desperation to return home from a hellish life abroad is not less.

Many of them could have been kept away from the tentacles of scheming recruiting agents and ruthless overseas employers had they been properly educated about the pitfalls they might encounter along the way.

Those waiting to go abroad, lured by the greener pastures but are apprehensive of the obstacles that could prop up in their way now have a body to turn to for help. The Migrant Resource Centre (MRC), the first of its kind in the entire country, that started functioning here on Monday might clear many of their doubts and confusion. The centre has been set up by the International Organisation for Migration in association with the Union Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs.

“The centre is aimed at facilitating lawful migration from South and South East Asian countries to the European Union countries,” said K. Sudhakaran, Protector of Emigrants, Kochi.

The centre offers counselling services on a walk-in basis for anyone in need of help, he said. Besides, the centre operates a help line giving information on a variety of issues including job opportunities abroad, doubts on emigration and other procedural formalities, and the cost for undertaking the journey.

More importantly, the centre will also serve as a centre for verifying the credentials of the recruiting agents and the prospective foreign employer for whom the candidate is being recruited. Materials like handbook on emigration formalities and brochures of job opportunities abroad would be made available at the centre.

The centre operates from Putherikal Building on Market Road. Its service will be available between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The help line numbers are 0484 - 2372040, 2372044.

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