TIMELINE: 2010-2017 (Renewed yearly)
Immigration or migration, by itself, being a complex web of multiple perspective, requires nuanced interventions to enable people to have a safe lives where they move to and even safe rerun if voluntarily desired. Moreover, as recognized under Sustainable Development Goal 10, social and income inequality are global problems that requires global solutions, and facilitating the safe migration and mobility of people is also key to bridging the widening divide (UNDP). Caritas India, since late 1990s, has been efficiently working to address unsafe migration and Human Trafficking. Through AVR, Caritas India provides reintegration support to the returnee and enables them to have dignified lives through a network of charitable organization working for the refugees and asylum seekers around the world.
Outstaying the period of legal stay in a country; those with expired documentations and fake documentations are classified as illegal immigrants. The Times of India (July 6 2012) revealed that around 16,000 irregular migrants from India were found in the EU in 2012. According to a 2012 UK Home Office report, India is among 10 countries that are the main sources of illegal immigration to Britain. The report, which uses the term ‘irregular’ rather than ‘illegal’, says that 5,895 Indian nationals were ordered to leave the UK in 2010.
Immigration is trending in today’s world and the nations and regions are struggling to defining attitudes and policies towards immigrants and immigration for the 21st Century. Every nation, country or colony has rules and laws that control and regulate people who come in from other places. The focus, however, has been on the economics and legal status of individuals and groups of immigration. The crucial aspects of human security in the source and receiving countries are seldom deliberated in policy matters. The reasons for people illegally migrating vary, and in most cases if not all, warrant humanitarian interventions and considerations in policy frameworks. These aspects are raised by concerned civil society bodies and the United Nations. Given the rise of natural and man-made calamities the humanity is faced with on daily basis, and the engulfing poverty, people are crossing into foreign territories by means affordable, even if not legal, in hope of better opportunities and safety of lives. Many of the illegal migrants end up in very difficult and dangerous situations endangering their lives, including their dependents. By this reasoning, illegal immigration can often substituted with “Distress Immigration”.
ABOUT THE INTERVENTION
The AVR programme was initially implemented in partnership with Caritas International Belgium in 2010. Later, it was joined by the Refugee Action United Kingdom, Micado Migration Germany, Maatwerk Bij Terugkeer Netherlands, Danish Refugee Council and the University of Nicosia Cyprus country.
Assistance is provided in the form of Reintegration Financial Packages, psychological support, counselling, medical assistance, business consultancy support, government liaising, vocational training and placement, education and employment support. Majority of the returnees are middle aged men. Priority reference is provided to the pregnant women, single mothers, differentially abled, those with medical issues, and senior citizens.
REGIONS OF REINTEGRATION
A majority, however, hail from Punjab and Haryana in Northern India, Tamil Nadu and Kerala in Southern India and Gujarat and Mumbai in Western India.The returnees so far have been repatriated to the states of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab,Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Poona, Mumbai, Goa, Kerala and Rajasthan
IMPLEMENTING PARTNERS:
North: Chetanalaya Delhi and Navjivan Charitable Trust, Jalandhar
West: Centre for Social Action- Mumbai, Poona Diocesan Social Service Society (SSS), Kaira Social Service Society Ahmedabadand Caritas Goa.
South: Madras Social Service Society, ThanjavurSSS, Madurai Multiple SSS, Salem SSS, Trichirapalli SSS, Perambalur SSS, Tuticorn SSS, Sivagangai SSS, Tirunelveli SSS, Deepalaya Social Service Centre, Trivandrum SSS, Welfare Services Ernakulam and Kairos Kannur, Hyderabad Archdiocese Social Service Society, Eluru SSS and Vishakpatnam Diocese SSS.
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