OIA ministry abolishes ECRS system to end exploitation

New Delhi, Sep 6 (UNI) In a major decision aimed at ending harassment of uneducated people seeking opportunities abroad, the Overseas Indian Affairs (OIA) Ministry today announced abolition of the Emigration Clearance Requirement Suspension (ECRS) system for persons holding a passport needing Emigration Check Required (ECR).

It will come into effect from October one this year, OIA Minister Vayalar Ravi told the Lok Sabha through a statement during zero hour, while pointing out that ''it is an important reform measure under the Emigration Act of 1983''.

ECR is mandatory for those passport holders whose educational qualification is less ''than a pass'' in the 10th standard, before leaving the country for overseas employment.

Mr Ravi said under the Emigration Act, a person holding a passport as Emigration Check Required (ECR) was required to obtain emigration clearance from the Protector of Emigrants (PoE) before leaving the country for overaseas employment. This was a statutory requirement.

This Act did not cover ECR passport holders who travel overseas for visits other than for employment. However, for the last two decades administrative instructions had been in force requiring them to obtain Emigration Clearance Requirement Suspension or what is commonly referred to as ECRS.

Pointing out that the ECRS system had no statutory basis and that no other country imposed such restrictions on international travel, he said this system had led to considerable inconvenience and harassment to passengers.

''It has resulted in corruption in POE offices and a nexus between unscrupulous recruiting agents and middlemen resulting in the exploitation of a large number of poor people''.

In this context, Mr Ravi pointed out that more than 550,000 people who travelled overseas last year for purposes other than employment had to obtain ECRS.

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