Haryana CM Stands Firm Against Travel Agents
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Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini has announced stringent actions against travel agents involved in illegal youth migration. With 127 cases registered, 102 agents are under scrutiny, and 8 have been arrested. The newly passed Haryana Travel Agents Registration and Regulation Bill, 2025, aims to protect youth from exploitation and ensure accountability among agents.
Key Takeaways
- The state government has registered 127 cases against travel agents.
- This includes actions against 102 agents, with 8 arrests.
- The new Bill aims to protect youth from exploitation.
- Penalties for human trafficking include 7 to 10 years of imprisonment.
- A Foreign Cooperation Department has been established for safe migration.
Chandigarh, March 26 (NationPress) Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced on Wednesday that the state government has initiated strict measures against travel agents engaged in the illegal migration of youth abroad.
As a result, 127 cases have been registered, leading to action against 102 agents, with eight travel agents apprehended.
The Chief Minister made these remarks during a discussion regarding the Haryana Travel Agents Registration and Regulation Bill, 2025, which was presented during the Budget session in the Assembly.
The Bill, which has now been approved, is designed to protect youth from exploitation, ensuring transparency, accountability among travel agents, and addressing illegal activities.
He emphasized that the state government's objective is clear: strict action will be taken against travel agents who facilitate illegal migration.
The Chief Minister mentioned that with the introduction of three new criminal laws, certain sections have been revised.
This Bill is being reintroduced with enhanced provisions to protect youth from exploitation, he noted before tabling the legislation.
He pointed out that many young individuals had sold their land to travel abroad, often being sent in unsafe conditions.
“Once this Bill becomes law, the government aims to successfully eliminate all such illegal practices,” he clarified.
The Chief Minister added that the Bill contains provisions to combat human trafficking, imposing penalties of seven to ten years of imprisonment for offenders.
Furthermore, the state government has set up a Foreign Cooperation Department to oversee the process of sending youth abroad for business, education, or employment.
The primary aim of this Bill is to ensure that all travel agents are registered and operate within the new legal framework, allowing the government to maintain accurate records.
CM Saini highlighted that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central government successfully repatriated 23,000 youth stranded in Ukraine during their MBBS studies.
The Bill was enacted to create a framework to ensure transparency, accountability, and the integrity of travel agents while checking and curbing their illegal and fraudulent activities, thereby protecting the interests of Haryana residents.
Reports indicate that innocent and unemployed youth from Haryana are being lured into illegal migration on a significant scale through illegitimate means.
Unscrupulous and unregistered travel agents deceive these individuals by promising quick, easy immigration to foreign countries. They assure arrangements for work visas, work permits, and study visas through offer letters from foreign universities and colleges, but frequently fail to deliver.
In numerous instances, these agents provide fake offer letters and sometimes create fake or unrecognized educational institutions. They impose exorbitant fees and demand large sums of money at various stages. Often, these agents send unsuspecting individuals abroad illegally, leading to their arrest by foreign authorities, thus underscoring the urgent need to address the illegal operations of such travel agents.
