Migration is a way to move from one place to another in order to live and work. Since the earliest times, humanity has been on the move. They move in search of job/ work opportunities and for various other reasons and to fulfill many other purposes. Some move in response to the adverse effects of climate change, natural disasters, or other environmental factors.

Census,2001 data, says that the majority of people migrates from one country to another country is for better livelihood opportunities and to look for better jobs/work. People to earn more in lesser time traveled to various countries via illegal mode and by taking help of fake travel agents, these agents for the sake of some money transfer/smuggle these peoples to other countries through unlawful modes.

Few individuals belong to Karimnagar and Jagtial districts, state of Telangana in India also traveled to Austria by means of illegal way (migration) with the help of agents and they somehow managed to land in the country.

European Return Reintegration Network Programme (ERRIN) helps illegal migrants to get back to their home country in a dignified manner and further supports in business/ livelihoods establishment, Education and vocational training to the returnees, medical assistance and also take care of the other important aspects such as legal migration, pre-& post counseling, documentation, etc. for someone wants to go to the European country to make good life.

“ERRIN helped these seven people to return to their country one of the returnees Mr. Rakesh (name changed) shared his experience”, he said

“For better livelihood opportunity I decided to go abroad, in 2018 I met a travel agent, they helped me to go to Austria by illegal means/way. Here, my life was not good, I did not get a good/decent job, there was no food to eat, no fixed work time neither proper wages. I become totally disturbed and badly started looking for ways to return to my own country among my people, my place. ERRIN Programme helped me to return to my country and helped me to get united with my family, I am doing happy now and practicing agriculture in my place”.

On dated 12.4.2019, ERRIN, along with Caritas India staff and local partner i.e. LSSS (Lodhi social service society) scheduled an FGD (Focused group discussion with the 7 returnees from Austria in Jagtial District in Telangana with a prime objective was to improve ongoing reintegration services, to know and overcome the challenges being faced by the returnees during the services.

The discussion also covered some other important aspects such as to know about the returnee’s journey from source to destination country, push and pull factor of migration, challenges went through in destination country, reason for coming back to their home country, how they come to know about ERRIN programme, Mode of communication with the EPI (European Partner Institute) i.e. The Republic of Austria, pre-departure counseling or information on reintegration services by EPI and reintegration assistance in home country, etc.

Outcomes: Returnees said that mostly they traveled through travel agents, get trapped by them in the name of good job openings and a better lifestyle, understood the needs of value-added & handholding support to the returnees, completion of reintegration assistance on/before time. Returnees also recommended for pre-orientation of reintegration plan, dissemination of checklist to returnees on reintegration activities and to fasten the reintegration process to restore their livelihood.