So, finally, the Punjab government is waking up to the growing incidents of illegal immigration of Punjabi youth to Western countries in the recent past.
All such illegal migrants hailing from Punjab (a state in India) have been found to be in deep troubles after immigration into countries like the UK, the US, Canada, Italy, Dubai and so on. The list seems to be endless.
As per ‘The Punjab Human Trafficking Act 2009’ recently passed by Vidhan Sabha, which is still waiting approval of the Governor, it becomes necessary for all travel and immigration agents in Punjab to possess a license for carrying on their services.
In addition, all immigration advisors in Punjab will need a prior approval for holding either offering visa services or holding seminars on foreign education.
The Act also gives additional powers to the police officials for taking into custody and giving severe punishment for those found to be alluring innocent Indians to immigrate by assuring them of instant visas.
The punishment by the government will be closely related to the amount paid by the victims to the immigration consultants. If the amount taken by the immigration consultant is higher, he will be liable for greater punishment, the Act states.
According to Punjab’s Deputy CM(Chief Minister) Sukhbir Singh Badal, the process of licensing the immigration agents will start once the Act is approved by the Governor.
For several years, innocent victims of greedy immigration consultants in Punjab have suffered a lot after immigrating illegally to nations like Italy, Libya, Egypt, Turkey, Malaysia and Spain. After being found with traveliing on fake visas, all such youth from Punjab are left with no option but to spend time in jails.
Greedy and unregistered immigration consultants continue to cheat youth of Punjab even as majority of nations have introduced stricter visa rules for controling illegal immigration. And for ruining the future of Punjab’s younger generation, unscrupulous immigration agents charge a whopping amount of around 20 lakh from each individual migrant.
The Punjab government will ensure to enforce the Act at various levels in order to control the functioning of immigration and travel agents in Punjab.