Union Minister Kumari Selja Claims Foreign Ministry Lacks Data on Fake Travel Agents

Union Minister and Sirsa MP Kumari Selja has expressed alarm over what she describes as the Foreign Ministry's insufficient data regarding illegal travel agents operating throughout India. Selja raised this critical issue in Parliament, challenging the government's official figures and highlighting the widespread fraud affecting young job seekers.

According to Selja, the Ministry of External Affairs has reported that only 3,281 illegal agents have been identified on the e-Migrate portal nationwide as of February 2025. The minister expressed skepticism about this figure, asserting that unauthorized travel agents operate in virtually every street and neighborhood across urban centers in India. 

"Young people are desperately seeking employment opportunities and dream of going abroad. They're falling victim to these illegal agents," Selja stated. "Many are spending up to 50 lakh rupees to travel via illegal 'donkey routes' for jobs abroad, only to be handcuffed and deported like criminals. This is extremely shameful for our country."

The former Union Minister emphasized that she had specifically requested precise information from the Foreign Ministry regarding the number of travel agents who make false promises of overseas employment to Indian youth. She stressed that these fraudulent operations cause severe financial and emotional damage to victims and their families. 

Selja called for the government to compile accurate data on illegal travel agents and take strict action against them. She pointed out that the problem is particularly acute in states like Haryana, where many young people aspire to work abroad but lack proper guidance about legal migration channels.

The issue of fraudulent travel agents has gained increased attention following numerous reports of Indians being stranded in foreign countries, detained for illegal entry, or subjected to exploitative working conditions after being misled about job opportunities.

Selja 's statement points out towards the growing concerns about immigration fraud and human trafficking networks who exploit aspirations of the youngsters seeking better opportunities abroad.