open house: What measures should the admn take to stop fake travel agents from duping youth?

No illegal agent should be allowed

The lure of finding ways to move to the West isn’t a recent trend. Currently past the sixth decade of my life, I have seen relatives make Herculean efforts to migrate to the West ever since I was a little child. There was always something special about those toys and chocolates that the relatives got for us whenever they visited India. The quality of the stuff they got was unmatched. Cut to the present, globalisation has made it possible for us to have access to the stuff we eyed as children and waited for relatives to come on vacations. So, what lures the youth to move out of their country now and how this has made unscrupulous travel agents dupe the youngsters and their naive families? Day in and day out, we hear stories about people losing lakhs, or being stranded in some grey zone, helpless, deprived of food and shelter. Who is responsible for their plight? The masses need to have the basic knowledge of the legal ways to enter into a specific country. In the age of the Internet, information is available and one needs to do one’s homework properly. We should know for sure the credibility of the travel agent before entrusting our documents/passport etc to him. Rightfully, every travel agency has to be registered with the local authorities and they have to display their registration in their office. The government definitely needs to pull up its socks and ensure that no illegal agents are allowed to spread their tentacles and cheat innocent people. Their bait lies amongst the uneducated population and this is the target where either the panches, sarpanches, local councillors or MLA s should hold talks or seminars and make the vulnerable population aware of the right way to go about their dream of moving abroad. There are so many examples of fake colleges, universities in the foreign land who in connivance with these unscrupulous travel agencies, dupe the youth of lakhs and the students find themselves on the road, with the sword of deportation hanging on their heads. This mafia is deeply entrenched with its roots reaching far and wide. It’s not just a matter of policies that can eradicate this menace. It has to be fought tooth and nail. Awareness is the key.

Manveen Mann

Create job avenues to check migration

Human trafficking is a sensitive and growing global phenomenon with a long history. Many gullible youths are being lured by fraudulent illegal immigration consultants, travel agents or their touts on false promises to settle them abroad. Such unscrupulous elements cheat common citizens, especially the youth, and grab huge amounts from them. To check all this, the authorities have already enacted an appropriate legal framework, including the ‘Punjab Travel Professions Regulation Act, 2014’, to deal with cases relating to fraud committed by travel agencies involved in facilitating visas or immigration, The Emigration Act, 1983 and provisions of the Indian Penal Code. Besides, regular advisories are issued by the government regarding the effective implementation of such regulations. However, there is an urgent need to create awareness among the public in general, and the youth in particular, through seminars and conferences in all the educational institutions, public fairs along with publicity in print and electronic media, and strict compliance with the available legal framework through a series of measures, such as regularly maintaining and updating the list of all licensed travel agents on the official websites, conducting their physical verification at least once every year, and compulsory display of their credentials and registered licence number prominently at their offices. Additionally, the state government should promote investment on a large scale in various industries like agro-based food processing, cotton textile, hosiery and ready-made garments, sugar, paper and paperboard, ethanol, IT, ITES, semi-conductor, sports and surgical, bikes, automobiles and their parts etc, along with non-farm activities to provide better employment avenues for the youngsters locally to check their mad race for migration abroad.

Kulwant Singh Phull

Brain drain should be prevented

Unscrupulous travel agents duping young people on the pretext of sending them abroad is a growing concern. Notwithstanding that reputed immigration consultants in some cases have helped aspirants in settling abroad, an increasing number of scams by fake travel agents under the pretext of overseas education or work permits in the recent years, requires immediate attention. These agents often use false promises, fake documents and deceitful tactics to lure innocent youth into their trap, which typically involves huge hoardings and media advertisements promising young people a chance to study or work in advanced countries such as United States, Canada, Australia or the United Kingdom. They often claim to have connections with foreign universities or companies and promise to secure visas, scholarships or even jobs to their clients. In return, they charge an exorbitant fee, which ranges from lakhs to crores of rupees. Some of the aspirants, adopting ‘donkey routes’, have even been stranded midway in foreign countries with no valid documents or means of support, thus putting their lives in extreme danger. As modus operandi, agents often provide fake call letters and documents including visas and passports, resulting in big scams where innocent youth and their parents are subjected to huge financial losses, emotional trauma and damage to reputation. To avoid being fleeced by such fake travel agents, new orientation courses of a world standard should be introduced in our institutions so that students acquire competitive education. Yet the youth interested in studying abroad should get enrolled only in recognised overseas educational institutions, taking all precautions to prevent falling prey to fraudsters. The Ministry of External Affairs has set up an Overseas Employment Division to regulate the recruitment of Indian workers abroad. The aspirants, if required, should take assistance only from government approved travel consultants or from registered recruitment agents. However, looking at the mushroom growth of IELTS/TOEFL centres and dubious travel agents in every town, the government should take strong measures to prevent such scams and protect the interests of innocent people. All travel agencies should be necessarily registered with a designated nodal agency at the state level to streamline the process of immigration. Earnest efforts should be made so that the youth is gainfully absorbed

within the country by creating more jobs and better working conditions so that outflow of money and brain drain is avoided.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Agents should have verified credentials

For more than three decades, the Indian youth have been chasing the dream of setting foot on foreign land. Taking benefit of this rush, a few individuals are seizing the opportunity to make piles of money through non-ethical means. The situation worsened when last year, more than 700 international students were allegedly deported or were supposed to have been deported because they were found to possess fake offer letters given to them by greedy agents resulting in a negative global incident for India. Although favourite and popular countries among the students such as USA, UK, New Zealand, Australia and Canada have tightened their rules and policies related to student visa in particular, the seemingly never-ending process of looting continues, resulting in parents going in hefty debts. Canada tightened the rules even further by introducing college LOA (Letter of Acceptance) linked with IRCC with student information, introducing PAL letters (Provincial Attestation Letter) involving the province accepting the student to study in the college and also to confirm the credibility of everyone involved in the process of immigration, from consultants to college. If we talk about Punjab immigration policies, the administration has set a rule that every consultant and agent has to be licensed for different categories of immigration with the state government. Concerned administration should further deepen the investigation by taking each and every detail from the travel agents, but nothing worked. Students are still duped and parents are financially left in the lurch. The scenario has already worsened but the state authorities need to take steps to save innocent people from such a global fraud. In the growing world of fast-paced technologies, scammers and now even fraudulent consultants can misuse the latest intelligence for their personal betterment. It’s high time the government also adapted and understood the new world with a more digital vision. The state administration should set up an online portal which is mandatory for each and every immigration consultant to prove their legitimacy and for the citizens of Punjab to check the credibility of their agent. This will not only separate legal and law-abiding travel consultants from fraudulent ones but also provide a sense of security to every parent and student applying so that they know they are in the right hands. Additionally, the agents who do not provide their credentials and verify themselves on this government- secured portal, should have their licences cancelled and tried in the court of law.

Lakshit Jindal

Avoid unauthorised travel agents

Why are younger people going abroad? The answer is that because they are not getting jobs in their country, they seek travel agents to go abroad so that they can earn and spend a comfortable life. These agents specifically target vulnerable job seekers, especially youths, with the promise of lucrative jobs. They are trapped by unauthorised agents. The fake travel agents loot their entire earnings cunningly. The state government should produce a list of registered agents so that innocent people do not lose their money. The state government should run a campaign against the fake agents. Who are these unauthorised agents? Put a case against them and impose heavy fines. Youngsters should also inquire about the agents before giving their documents and money.

Sucha Singh Sagar

Youth should prefer to stay back

Young people these days want to go abroad for degrees and get good working opportunities. But in case the scheme does not work, and the fraudulent agents have taken away their money and documents, then the young people regret. But the situation is not that bad. If the youth are willing to work here, the government should provide them with jobs so that no one has to go abroad and can work and earn money here. Inspire the people to stop going abroad, you can change yourself and live and work here. Today’s generation does not like hard work, they always find a comfort zone but that is not good for them. In my view, the youth should try not to go abroad, they should work hard and get jobs here.

Payalpreet Kaur

India is growing, opportunities here

The list of youth going abroad for better opportunities is not new. After Independence, many Indians in the 1950s migrated to England and other countries for better job opportunities and lifestyle. Then in the 1960s, America opened its doors for engineers, doctors and scientists and the highly educated migrated to America. Till the 1980s, Canada was open to all as visa was allocated on arrival and it paved the way for Punjabis to migrate to Canada. Since 1981 onwards, Canada restricted travel. It was very difficult to move to Australia and New Zealand but in the 1990s, they opened their doors for education and many youths after clearing the points system migrated to Australia and New Zealand. Similarly, Canada also granted PR on points system. Many Indians migrated to these countries on points basis. The IELTS centres along with travel agents increased to a large number in Punjab. Whenever anyone residing abroad visits his native town or village, the youth residing nearby get fascinated with the living of these families and seek opportunity to go abroad for a bright future. Those who do not clear the points system try to go abroad crossing illegally through other countries to reach their destination. From Mexico border, a number of illegal immigrants cross over to USA. Sometimes, the youngsters face a number of hurdles and miserable circumstances while reaching their destination. No one is to be blamed because an increasing number of students lust to go abroad and there are an increasing number of travel agents who promise to send the youth abroad by any means. The Punjab Government in the past issued licenses to the travel agents with specified fees. It is now up to the student to be aware of the consequences for travelling without proper documentation. The new US President Donald Trump has already clarified his immigration policy whereas Canada is already being strict on immigration. Australia and New Zealand were already strict on immigration for a decade. The need of time in India is to increase job opportunities and educate the youth that India is also heading towards becoming a developed country with lot more avenues.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Provide legal aid to fraud victims

Youngsters getting duped by travel agents on the pretext of sending them abroad have become a major issue. Youth eager to start their career fall prey to fake travel agents who take advantage of them by promising opportunities that don’t exist and charge hefty fee for services that are never delivered. They exaggerated their claims about job placement to entice young minds without any guarantee or commitment. Many of them signed the papers without understanding the terms and conditions of contract and are often trapped by them. They must check the credentials of the agents and reviews often given by their known ones. Consult a trusted advisor or professional and study properly before signing any contract. One must ask for the details of payments and services. It is very important and mandatory for the administration to issue a licence and check their background, implement standard terms and conditions. There should be no hidden clause or unfair terms. Heavy fine or punishment should be imposed if any fraud is found and blacklist the company in future and make their names accessible to the public. Carry out public awareness campaigns about these agents. There should be workshops in all schools, colleges and training centres,. Provide free legal aid to the fraud victims.

Shashi Kiran

Full disclosure must for travel agents

To curb the menace of youngsters getting duped by travel agents on the pretext of sending them abroad, the administration should foremost take the step of compulsory full disclosure for travel agents, to disclose full facts and information regarding youngsters sent by them abroad, either through their website or coloured pamphlets and manuals. Secondly, the government should make compulsory registration of travel agents with it in order to begin their business whereby licences should be granted by the administration only to fair travel agents. Last, but not the least, awareness must be created amongst youth so that they do not get duped by fake agents, by taking the help of media.

Sanjay Chawla

Question for next week

Parking remains a major problem in the city. Increasing vehicular population and shortage of space have aggravated the difficulty. What should be done to streamline the parking woes?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to amritsardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (December 5)