Government to facilitate education of children evacuated from Libya

NEW DELHI: The ministry of overseas Indian affairs is in discussions with the ministry of human resources development and various state governments to facilitate the school and college education of children of Indian families who have been recently evacuated from Libya. “Many of the Indian workers in Libya and their families have left the strife-torn country without their essential documents and the education of their children is now the most important issue. We are trying to help the children get admissions in schools and colleges in various states in India,” the minister of overseas Indian affairs Vayalar Ravi told reporters on Thursday.

There were at least 1000 Indians in Libya who have chosen not to return and would like to remain there to see how things worked out, the minister added. Meanwhile, the Indian Community Welfare Fund which has been established by the MOIA at 42 Indian missions across the world, was used by the high commission in Libya for the evacuation of Indians from there. The fund provides onsite welfare services for Indian workers in various countries who are faced with emergency situations. “In Libya, the funds have been completely exhausted in getting the thousands of Indians back. Many distressed Indian workers in the Gulf too have taken recourse to this fund.

However, more money is needed to keep ICWF going,” Mr Ravi said. The funding comes from budgetary support from the MOIA and funds raised by the Indian missions by levying a nominal service charge on consular services and through voluntary contributions from the Indian community.