New Delhi: The Indian government registered a substantial number of distress calls from its citizens living overseas, with official data shared in Parliament revealing 16,127 complaints lodged between January 2024 and November 2025. The data underscores the pressing need for consular support, with the vast majority of these cases originating from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

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The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has confirmed that it is actively working to enhance and streamline the support mechanisms available to the extensive Indian diaspora, particularly migrant workers facing difficulties.

Gulf Dominance in Distress Cases

A significant portion of the grievances came from the Gulf nations, where an estimated 8.9 million Indian expatriates reside, making up approximately 66% of the Non-Resident Indian (NRI) community.

The top five countries reporting the maximum distress cases during this 23-month period (Jan 2024 to Nov 2025) were:

Rank	Country	Number of Complaints
1	Saudi Arabia	3,049
2	United Arab Emirates (UAE)	1,587
3	Malaysia	662
4	United States	620
5	Oman	613

Other countries in the top ten included Kuwait, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Qatar, illustrating that while distress is widespread, the issues are most acute in the primary employment hubs of the Gulf.

Online Portals Key to Redressal

The MEA utilizes a multi-channel mechanism to receive and address these complaints. The Minister of State for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, informed the Parliament that the cases were received primarily through two key government platforms:

• MADAD Portal: 11,195 complaints were registered through the MADAD (MEA in Aid of Diaspora in Distress) portal. This dedicated consular grievance management system, launched in 2015, allows citizens to log, track, and escalate their complaints online.

• CPGRAMS: 4,932 complaints were filed via the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System.

In addition to these portals, Missions receive distress calls through 24×7 helplines, social media, walk-ins, and email.

Government Measures to Strengthen Support

The government affirmed its commitment to the safety and well-being of Indian workers, outlining several steps taken to improve support:

1. Proactive Mission Engagement: On receiving a complaint, Indian Missions proactively take up the matter with the concerned foreign employer and, where necessary, conduct visits to the worker’s place of employment. Issues are escalated to local labour authorities for resolution.

2. Legal and Financial Aid: Missions provide necessary consular help and legal assistance, maintaining a panel of local lawyers in areas with large Indian communities. Financial assistance is also offered through the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) for distressed nationals.

3. Counselling and Outreach: Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendras are operational in key cities like New Delhi, Dubai, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Kuala Lumpur to offer guidance. Missions regularly organize Open Houses and Consular Camps to gather feedback and address grievances directly, especially in remote areas.

Causes for Delay

The Ministry noted that while cases are typically resolved speedily through direct communication and mediation, delays in a small number of pending cases are usually due to factors outside the Government’s control, such as:

• Incomplete information submitted by the complainants.

• Non-cooperation from foreign employers or sponsors.

• Limitations on the role of Indian Missions in ongoing local court cases.

The sheer volume of grievances highlights the continued challenge of ensuring the safety and fair treatment of Indian migrant workers abroad and the critical importance of the digital platforms in bridging the geographical gap for consular assistance.

Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK) (http://www.owrc.in) Toll Free Helpline Number: 1800 11 3090 International Call Number (call charges apply): +91 11 40503090, +91 11 26885021 Timings: 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. (Provides walk-in counselling facility as well as registration, tracking of grievance on Madad portal) Email: helpline@mea.gov.in Grievances can also be registered with the PBSK or the Regional Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs):-