Caritas India plans to make reintegration as its signature programme

Thousands of people swarm into European countries to seek a better life but only very few succeed in living their dreams. The situation becomes bad to worse for those who cannot cope up with the demands and challenges of the destination country.

European Return Reintegration Network programme provides an opportunity to those irregular migrants in Europe to return home in a dignified way and offer livelihood support in the country of origin. With eight years of experience in Reintegration programme, Caritas India is enhancing the capacities of the local partner and training them with new tools of reporting for the new grant of European Return Reintegration Network programme.

Emphasized on the rich exchange learning with the ERIN Project Management Unit, Executive Director of Caritas India, Fr. Paul Moonjely encouraged the partner to improve the services provided to the returnee and make the ERRIN programme a signature programme of Caritas and her partners.

Caritas India is working with 18 local partners for the Reintegration programme.

Caritas India has received 248 application which comprises of 453 irregular returnees for the reintegration support from Europe and the United Kingdom. Ms. Blandine from Caritas International Belgium visited Caritas India from November 12-17, 2018 for the ERRIN orientation and monitoring visit. During the two days orientation, she highlighted the ERRIN framework and the exchange of local partners experience which helped her to understand the reintegration procedure in context of India on the chain of communication with Caritas India, her local partners, and the returnees.

The peer group meeting with the Punjab returnees on November 16, 2018, focused on the feedback mechanism to improve the reintegration service including pre and post reintegration support.  Meaningful exchange of learning and experience was shared with the External consulate – British High Commissioner, Caritas and her local partners on Return Reintegration context.

They shared their good practices on Voluntary Return Reintegration programme emphasizing on outreach network with local charities in UK for voluntary return, learning and challenges in perspectives of Punjabi returnees from United Kingdom country.