Jalandhar: The Doaba region of Punjab, known
for the high rate of migration to foreign countries, is
witnessing a rise in number of people being deported after
falling victim to illegal racketeers who promise high paying
jobs at foreign shores.
Nearly 45 per cent of the total number of Punjabis who go
abroad in search of better jobs are from this region, which is
often called the "NRI belt" of the state.
Lured by touts with promises of lucrative jobs abroad,
youths from the area, who resort to illegal means to go to
foreign countries or overstay their visa period, are forced
to return.
"Nearly 40 people are coming to this area every day from
different countries. Last year, about 16,477 people were
deported," Parneet Singh, the region`s passport official said on Sunday.
The last year`s figures include people who had return to
India to escape the unrest in Libya, Singh said, adding, the
passports of some of these people were retained by their
employers and they had to come back with the help of emergency
slips.
Over the last five years, about 70,500 people have been
deported, he said, adding the figures have seen a significant
rise during this period.
The financial downturn and tightening of visa norms in
most countries could have been the reasons for this, he said.
PTI
