The safety and well-being of Indian citizens in foreign countries including Canada is the top priority, the Indian government said in the current session of the Parliament on March 16, 2023.
“The safety and well-being of Indian nationals in foreign countries is the top priority for the Government. Indian Mission/Consulates in Canada are constantly engaged with the Indian community including on measures to ensure their safety and well-being,” Minister of State in the Ministry of External Affairs V. Muraleedharan said in a reply to a part of a question raised in the Rajyasabha about the number of incidents of attacks on Indians living in Canada that have been reported and the number of Indians killed or seriously injured in these incidents.
Replying to a query on the number of Indian students studying in Canadian universities and the number of Indians who are working,the minister shared that there are approximately 2,30,000 Indian students in Canadian colleges and universities and more than, 2,00,000 Indian citizens in Canada with a work permit.
Elaborating on the steps taken by the Government to provide safety to Indians the Minister ensured that the Ministry and Mission/Consulates in Canada regularly take up with the concerned Canadian authorities any untoward incident related to the Indian community and request them to ensure proper investigation, identification of the perpetrators and delivery of justice.
“Our Mission/Consulates in Canada have a 24-hour emergency number mentioned on their websites enabling Indian nationals to contact them in case of need. Indian nationals are encouraged to register with the Mission/Consulates through their respective websites or the MADAD portal (www.madad.gov.in). Advisories are also issued for Indian nationals from time to time, asking them to exercise due caution and remain vigilant.” the Minister informed.
