The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), overseen by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, is a support system for overseas Indians facing difficulties. It offers assistance like boarding and lodging for workers, emergency medical care, air passage for stranded individuals, and initial legal support.
ICWF Overview:
The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is a support program for Indians overseas. It started in 2009 by the Indian government. Its purpose is to help those in trouble. It does this by providing accommodation and food, emergency medical care, and travel back to India for those stranded. It also provides legal aid and advice. It handles the costs for repatriation of bodies when needed. The fund is managed by Indian embassies and consulates and is paid for through consular service fees. It has provided valuable help to many Indians abroad.
| ICWF Overview | Details |
| Full Form | Indian Community Welfare Fund |
| Purpose | To provide financial assistance and support to overseas Indians in distress. |
| Funding | Funded by fees levied on various consular services and donations. |
| Fee | Varies; a nominal amount is generally charged as part of the consular service fee. |
| Legal Assistance | Provides legal assistance to distressed Overseas Indian students and women facing abuse. |
| Transportation of Remains | Supports transportation of mortal remains in cases of unnatural death or financial inability of the family. |
| Emergency Evacuation | Assists in the emergency evacuation of Indian nationals from abroad. |
| Eligibility | Overseas Indians in distress; OCI cardholders are not eligible. |
| How to Avail Services | Approach the Indian Embassy or Consulate in the country of residence. |
| Application for Compensation | Compensation claims can be filed through the Indian Embassy or Consulate. |
Brief Overview of ICWF
Here are the summarised points from above detailed overview of ICWF for your easy understanding:
- ICWF is under the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs.
- Aimed to offer on-site welfare services to distressed overseas Indians.
Services include:
- Lodging for distressed workers.
- Emergency medical care.
- Air passage for stranded Indians.
- Initial legal assistance.
- Expenses for transportation of mortal remains.
Main beneficiaries include:
- Duped workers.
- Runaway housemaids.
- Accident victims.
- Deserted spouses.
- Undocumented workers in need of assistance.
- The fund assists when the Indian citizen can’t meet specific expenditures.
- Details must be provided to the Indian Mission.
Benefits
Assisting Overseas Indian Nationals in Distress Situations:
Transportation of Mortal Remains: ICWF helps manage the costs associated with transporting the mortal remains of deceased Indian nationals back to India or arranging for local cremation/burial when the employer, sponsor, or insurance company is unable or unwilling to do so, and the family can’t afford the costs.
Boarding and Lodging: The ICWF provides boarding and lodging to deserving distressed Indian nationals abroad on a means-tested basis. This can be in budget category accommodations or shelters run by the Mission/Post or NGOs associated with the Mission.
Air Passage: The fund aids stranded overseas Indian nationals by providing them with air passage back to India.
Legal Assistance: Legal help is provided on a means-tested basis to deserving overseas Indian nationals who have committed minor crimes, been falsely implicated by their employer, and jailed. This also includes distressed fishermen/seamen/sailors/Indian students.
Payment of Fines: ICWF pays for small fines and penalties for minor offences/crimes committed by Indian nationals, including cases of illegal stay in the host country where the worker is not at fault, to enable release from jail/detention center.
Emergency Medical Care: The fund offers emergency medical care on a means-tested basis to overseas Indians who have serious injuries due to accidents, life-threatening medical conditions, or suffer a serious disability.
Support for Community Welfare Activities:
Promotion of Indian Culture: The ICWF supports the promotion of Indian culture by funding cultural programs by recognized Indian Diaspora organizations during major Indian festivals, National Days of India, and performances by local or India-based artists.
Support for Indian Teachers: The fund pays an honorarium for teachers/faculty teaching Indian languages and art forms.
Welfare Activities for Indian Students: ICWF aids in organizing annual events for Indian students at Universities/educational institutions to discuss problems and issues, including visa, residence status, work permit, financial, welfare, and other issues.
Improvement in Consular Services:
Staff and Vehicles: ICWF supports the hiring of additional staff and vehicles for various consular services, including visits to jails, police stations, detention centers, labor camps, welfare camps, shelters for distressed Indians, hospitals, morgues, and airports.
Interpreters and Informational Material: It also funds the hiring of local interpreters for consular visits and the design, publication, and translation of pamphlets about local labor laws, regulations, and welfare measures for overseas employment in the host country.
Consular Camps and Helplines: ICWF organizes labor camps/consular camps for interacting with Indian migrant workers and informs them about overseas employment-related issues. It also sets up 24 x 7 toll-free helplines, walk-in resource centers to provide information, advice, and guidance to distressed Indian nationals.
e-Governance Solutions: The fund supports the development of e-Governance solutions and applications to address consular/welfare matters.
Eligibility
Indian citizens facing difficulties abroad are eligible for assistance.
Exclusions:
- Non-Indian nationals may have limited provisions.
- Routine consular services are not covered.
Application Process
Identify Need:
Determine the type of assistance needed from ICWF (e.g., legal, medical, repatriation).
Contact Mission:
Reach out to the nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate.
Provide Information:
Share all relevant details regarding your distress situation.
Submit Documents:
Provide necessary documents as requested by the Embassy or Consulate.
Complete Forms:
Fill out any application forms required for the assistance needed.
Stay in Touch:
Keep communication lines open with the Embassy or Consulate for updates.
Receive Assistance:
Once approved, avail the assistance provided by ICWF.
Follow-up:
If necessary, stay in touch for any further guidance or support.
Documents Required
- Valid Indian passport
- Evidence of the distressing situation
- Police report (if applicable)
- Medical documents (if applicable)
- Proof of Indian citizenship
For filing Compensation Claims for Indian Nationals who died Abroad:
(Requirement details may change based on the country)
The following are required:
- Death Certificate of the deceased
- Bank account information of the deceased
- Deceased’s Insurance Number
- Marriage Certificate (if there’s a spouse) and Birth Certificate (for children)
- The original passport of the deceased and a photocopy
- Power of attorney from the next-of-kin, directed to the Embassy or any individual living in Austria whom the family of the deceased wishes to assign.
- Legal Heir Certificate, to be procured by the next-of-kin through the relevant Taluk/Tahsildar or through the District Civil Court in the respective area in India.
- Any other documents that could be relevant depending on the circumstances of death, such as a police report (from local law enforcement), medical report (from the hospital)
- No Objection Certificate from other potential heirs (if there are multiple heirs).
FAQs
What is the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF)?
The Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) is a financial safety net for overseas Indians in distress.
Who pays for the Indian Community Welfare Fund?
The Indian Community Welfare Fund is funded by fees levied on various consular services and donations.
What is the fee for the Indian Community Welfare Fund?
The fee for the Indian Community Welfare Fund varies depending on the service available; typically, a nominal amount is charged as part of the consular service fee.
What does ICWF stand for?
ICWF stands for Indian Community Welfare Fund.
What is the purpose of a welfare fund?
The purpose of a welfare fund is to provide financial assistance and support to individuals in need.
Is legal assistance also provided to Overseas Indian students who are in distress?
Yes, legal assistance is provided to distressed Overseas Indian students through the Indian Community Welfare Fund.
In what cases is an Overseas Indian woman eligible to receive legal assistance?
An Overseas Indian woman facing domestic abuse or harassment is eligible for legal assistance through the Indian Community Welfare Fund.
Under what circumstances does the scheme provide support for the transportation of Mortal Remains of the deceased Overseas Indian?
The Indian Community Welfare Fund provides support for the transportation of mortal remains in cases of unnatural death or if the family is unable to bear the costs.
Are OCI card holders eligible for financial assistance under the Indian Community Welfare Fund?
No, OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders are not eligible for financial assistance under the Indian Community Welfare Fund.
Is a person of Indian origin but distressed in a foreign country eligible for assistance through the Indian Community Welfare Fund?
Yes, a person of Indian origin in distress in a foreign country is eligible for assistance through the Indian Community Welfare Fund.
Does the Indian Community Welfare Fund also provide support in emergency evacuation of Indian nationals?
Yes, the Indian Community Welfare Fund provides support in the emergency evacuation of Indian nationals.
Whom should I approach to file a compensation claim for my husband in case of an incident abroad?
To file a compensation claim, you should approach the Indian Embassy or Consulate in the country where the incident occurred.
