MEA, Rajasthan govt hold Videsh Sampark conference on safe overseas migration
Synopsis
The MEA and Rajasthan government convened over 200 stakeholders in Jaipur to tackle unsafe overseas migration — a problem that disproportionately hits rural Rajasthan. With rural awareness campaigns and a migrant data drive now planned, and Pravasi Rajasthani Diwas set for 10 December, the state is moving from one-off conferences toward a structured migration governance framework.
Key Takeaways
The MEA and Rajasthan government jointly held the Videsh Sampark – State Outreach Conference in Jaipur on 17 July .
The conference focused on promoting safe and legal overseas migration and protecting citizens from fraudulent recruitment agents .
Representatives of 20 authorised recruitment agencies , ADMs from 16 districts , and 40 Rajasthan Foundation chapters (virtual) participated.
Pravasi Rajasthani Diwas will be celebrated on 10 December to strengthen diaspora ties and promote investment and culture.
Awareness campaigns on safe migration will be expanded to rural areas , and a migrant data compilation drive will be launched.
The Videsh Sampark initiative has been running since 2017 , working with state governments to promote legal migration pathways.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Rajasthan government jointly organised the 'Videsh Sampark – State Outreach Conference' in Jaipur on 17 July, bringing together senior officials, recruitment agencies, and district administrators to promote safe and legal overseas migration and raise awareness about fraudulent recruitment agents.
Key Developments
Held at the Rajasthan International Centre, the conference was structured around the theme 'Rajasthanis should go abroad safely and with proper training'. The programme comprised an inaugural session, two thematic sessions, and a valedictory session that outlined key outcomes and a future roadmap.
The event drew participation from senior MEA officials, Rajasthan state and district departments, Rajasthan Police, representatives of 20 authorised recruitment agencies, Additional District Magistrates from 16 districts, and industry bodies including the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). Presidents and representatives of 40 Rajasthan Foundation chapters joined virtually.
What Officials Said
State Chief Secretary V. Srinivas said the Indian government has significantly strengthened its engagement with the Indian diaspora, pointing to the Vande Bharat Mission during the Covid-19 pandemic as evidence of that commitment. He noted that passport issuance has become more efficient and police verification timelines have been considerably reduced. He also announced that Pravasi Rajasthani Diwas will be celebrated on 10 December with a large-scale event connecting Rajasthanis from across India and abroad, focused on investment, innovation, culture, and development.
Sripriya Ranganathan, MEA Secretary (Consular, Passport and Visa and Overseas Indian Affairs), said the government is committed to making overseas travel for employment and education simpler and safer. She noted that the Videsh Sampark initiative, launched in 2017, aims to create awareness about legal migration pathways through close collaboration with state governments. She added that awareness campaigns on safe migration will be expanded to rural areas, and accurate data on overseas migrants from Rajasthan will be compiled to improve migration-related services.
Rajasthan Director General of Police (DGP) Rajiv Sharma said Rajasthan Police is coordinating closely with all relevant departments to strengthen safe and transparent overseas migration mechanisms, and assured that Rajasthanis facing difficulties abroad can approach the police for assistance.
Session Highlights
The first thematic session covered diaspora engagement, welfare and protection, passport services, and issues concerning Indian students abroad. Ankan Banerjee, Joint Secretary (Diaspora Engagement) at the MEA, highlighted government initiatives to strengthen diaspora engagement. Bhaskar A. Sawant, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), discussed challenges faced by overseas Rajasthanis, particularly matrimonial disputes and student-related issues. Regional Passport Officer Vipul Dev outlined recent improvements in passport services.
The second thematic session focused on safe and legal migration, skill development, overseas employment opportunities, investment promotion, and tourism. Participants discussed measures to improve skill readiness for international employment, promote ethical recruitment practices, and enhance inter-agency coordination.
Nodal Agencies and Attendance
The Department of NRI Affairs (DORA) and the Rajasthan Foundation served as the nodal agencies for the event. Senior attendees included Shikhar Agrawal, Additional Chief Secretary of DORA; Manisha Arora, Commissioner and Special Secretary; Suresh Kumar Ola, RIICO Managing Director; and Nilabh Saxena, Industries and Commerce Department Commissioner.
The conference signals a deepening of Centre-state coordination on overseas migration governance, with rural outreach and migrant data compilation set to follow as the next concrete steps.
Point of View
But the real test lies in last-mile delivery — specifically, whether the planned rural awareness campaigns actually reach the districts that feed the most irregular migration flows. Rajasthan has a long history of workers falling prey to fraudulent agents in Gulf-bound recruitment chains, and a single conference, however well-attended, has limited reach. The announcement of a migrant data compilation exercise is the most substantive commitment made — without credible numbers on who is going where and through which channels, policy interventions remain blunt instruments. Pravasi Rajasthani Diwas in December will be a useful barometer of whether this momentum holds or fades into another annual ritual.
NationPress
17 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Videsh Sampark – State Outreach Conference?
It is a joint initiative by the Ministry of External Affairs and state governments to promote safe and legal overseas migration and protect citizens from fraudulent recruitment agents. The Videsh Sampark programme was launched in 2017 and works through close collaboration with state administrations to spread awareness about legal migration pathways.
Where and when was the Jaipur Videsh Sampark conference held?
The conference was held on 17 July at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur. It was jointly organised by the MEA and the Rajasthan government, with DORA and the Rajasthan Foundation as nodal agencies.
What are the key outcomes of the conference?
The conference committed to expanding safe migration awareness campaigns to rural areas and compiling accurate data on overseas migrants from Rajasthan. It also announced that Pravasi Rajasthani Diwas will be celebrated on 10 December to strengthen diaspora ties and promote investment and development.
Who attended the Videsh Sampark conference in Jaipur?
The event brought together senior MEA officials, Rajasthan state and district-level officers, Rajasthan Police, representatives of 20 authorised recruitment agencies, ADMs from 16 districts, NSDC, and industry bodies. Presidents and representatives of 40 Rajasthan Foundation chapters joined virtually.
How can Rajasthanis working abroad get help if they face difficulties?
Rajasthan DGP Rajiv Sharma assured that Rajasthanis facing difficulties abroad can approach Rajasthan Police for assistance and support. The MEA also provides consular assistance and grievance redressal mechanisms through its overseas missions.
