Project PRAYAS to help Indian youth migrate abroad

Context: Recently, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) launched Project PRAYAS to help Indian workers and students migrate in a secure, orderly, and regular manner.

PRAYAS

• Project PRAYAS, which stands for Promoting Regular Assisted Migration for Youth and Skilled Professionals, was initiated in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
• It represents one of the initial efforts to bring together various state-level initiatives aimed at ensuring secure, organized, and well-managed international migration.
• The primary objective of Project PRAYAS is to support the safe, organized, and regular migration of Indian migrant workers and students.
• This is to be achieved through the formulation of policy recommendations in partnership with the MEA and state governments, thereby enhancing the governance of international migration.
• The project seeks to conduct a comprehensive study, capturing essential migration trends, the needs and aspirations of migrants, and significant international migration and mobility initiatives undertaken by both the central and state governments.
• The findings of this analysis will be shared with the Ministry, contributing to informed decision-making in the realm of international migration.International Organization for Migration
• Established in 1951, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a UN agency dedicated to promoting humane and orderly migration. IOM provides advice on migration policy, supports migrants globally, and addresses evolving migration dynamics.
• The organization operates in emergencies, enhancing the resilience of people on the move, especially in vulnerable situations, and helps build government capacity to manage various forms and impacts of mobility.
• IOM, guided by the UN Charter, upholds human rights, dignity, and the well-being of migrants as fundamental principles. Currently, IOM has 175 Member States and 8 states with Observer status, with India becoming a Member State in 2008.

International Organization for Migration

• The International Organization for Migration (IOM), established in 1951, operates as a specialized agency under the United Nations (UN) with a primary focus on promoting the humane and organized movement of people.
• The IOM defines a migrant as an individual who relocates from their usual place of residence, whether within a country or across international borders, either temporarily or permanently, and for various reasons.
• At the behest of states, the IOM extends its support not only to migrants but also to internally displaced persons, refugees, and other displaced populations. Its efforts span four main areas: migration and development, facilitating migration, regulating migration, and addressing forced migration.