Highlights
- SWADES is a database to register foreign-returned skilled workers amid the coronavirus economic crisis
- Over 15,000 foreign-returned Indian citizens have registered in a week
- Registrations mostly by workers from oil & gas, construction, tourism & hospitality, automotive and aviation industries
Entitled SWADES (Skilled Workers Arrival Database for Employment Support), this program was launched on May 30 jointly by India’s Ministries of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Civil Aviation and External Affairs.
The acronym SWADES also translates into 'homeland' in Hindi.
In a span of about one week, over 15,000 foreign-returned skilled Indians have registered for what is being promoted as the SWADES Skill Card. Most of them have experience in sectors such as oil and gas, construction, tourism and hospitality, the automotive industry and aviation.
Undertaken as part of India’s Vande Bharat Mission, SWADES is a database of qualified and experienced Indian citizens returning from overseas, who are impacted by the post-coronavirus economy.
The Indian government is promoting this program on social media, aboard international flights and at airports.
'Cautiously hopeful'
Siddharth Moonat, a student of business management at Melbourne’s Deakin University, is currently in India.
After having registered with SWADES a few days ago, Mr Moonat is cautiously hopeful about finding greener pastures in India as according to him "Australia is already in recession.”
“I am not completely relying on it, but I believe SWADES is a great initiative by the Indian government to attract Indians who are studying or working overseas in the post-COVID-19 economy and are unsure whether to remain in their countries of residence or to return to India. Also, many news sources indicate foreign companies are planning to invest and shift their operations there,” he says.
A student of business management specialising in supply chain management, Mr Moonat believes his education and skills in that field “will be valued by India's job market because Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently talked about the importance of the supply chain.”
The first infographic of the SWADES programme released by the Government of India. Source: Supplied
“Supply chain is an important factor for any business. If I talk about the FMCG industry, the COVID-19 pandemic has taught everyone which products are essential for survival, and they mainly include FMCG. India is a growing nation with various FMCG companies established there,” he reasons.
Currently with his family in Indore in India’s central state of Madhya Pradesh, Mr Moonat is taking his classes online with Deakin University and is also keeping his eye on Atmanirbhar Bharat, a program recently announced by Mr Modi for India to achieve economic self-reliance.
“Atmanirbhar Bharat has been trending on social media. The government is supporting start-ups by providing them with loans. This shows that the Indian job market is likely to expand. I may start a business after my online studies conclude,” says Mr Moonat.
'Too early to say'
Sagar Kamboj, who has studied civil engineering in Australia, has recently signed up for the SWADES Skill Card.
Now with his family in Punjab’s Fazilka, Mr Kamboj had been working with an architecture firm in Hobart for the past couple of years, before he left for India in March.
He is still in the queue to get a permanent residency in Australia after seven years of living here.
Sagar Kamboj has studied civil engineering from Australia. Source: Supplied
“I registered for SWADES as I was curious about it after I saw an advertisement on social media. It seemed promising that the Indian government may create or offer employment opportunities for foreign-returned people with skills and specialised education,” says Mr Kamboj.
However, he adds that it is still too early to say what lies ahead for skilled workers like him who have registered with SWADES.
“I haven’t heard from the concerned ministries yet,” adds Mr Kamboj.
Sources in the Indian government say the SWADES Skill Card initiative will soon be promoted through India’s embassies, high commissions and consulates across the world.
An infographic explaining the workflow of SWADES. Source: Supplied
The online form to register for the SWADES Skill Card can be found here. A toll-free call centre has also been set up to support Indian citizens while registering for this program.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Find out what restrictions are in place for your state or territory.
Testing for coronavirus is now widely available across Australia. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.
The federal government's coronavirus tracing app COVIDSafe is available for download from your phone's app store.
SBS is committed to informing Australia’s diverse communities about the latest COVID-19 developments. News and information is available in 63 languages at http://www.sbs.com.au/coronavirus
Share
