Indian Community Welfare Fund: Gulf News report

Abu Dhabi: An RTI query has disclosed that the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) holds a substantial balance of Rs 704.56 crore as of March 31, 2025. The disclosure comes at a time when financial assistance to NRIs is a pressing concern.

According to the information obtained by Kerala-based RTI campaigner K. Govindan Nampoothiry, the Emigration Policy and Welfare Division under the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, revealed this information on 14th July in response to an RTI query filed by him.

The query sought details about the utilization of ICWF funds. The Emigration wing clarified that no budget is allocated for ICWF, and funds are raised by levying a service charge on consular, passport, and visa services provided by Indian Missions abroad.

The year-wise utilization of ICWF funds is as follows:

- 2020: Rs 137.25 crore

- 2021: Rs 37.07 crore

- 2022: Rs 69.20 crore

- 2023: Rs 61.28 crore

- 2024: Rs 62.47 crore

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