As India grapples with a growing crisis of irregular migration, thousands leave the country without adequate documentation or security, only to return with shattered dreams. Amid this pressing issue, Caritas India is compassionately reintegrating voluntary returnees into society and restoring their dignity.
In recent years, the rise of irregular migration from India to European countries has become a deeply concerning trend. Driven by economic desperation, false promises of agents, or lack of awareness, many Indians end up overstaying visas, working undocumented jobs, or living in uncertainty as asylum seekers. When their dreams dissolve, the journey home becomes an even more difficult, burdened with shame, fear, and a lack of means to rebuild their lives.

But Caritas India is stepping in to make that return possible and purposeful.

Since 2010, Caritas India has supported over 1,400 voluntary returnees from 14 European countries, including Belgium, France, the UK, Austria, and Finland, through its Reintegration Program. With partners like Caritas International Belgium, Danish Refugee Council, and Caritas Austria, the organization ensures that returnees are welcomed not as failures, but as individuals with the right to restart life with dignity.

“Reintegration is not merely about coming back. It is about healing, empowerment, and inclusion,” says the Caritas India Reintegration Team.

Returnees, most of whom worked in low-skilled jobs abroad or lived undocumented lives, are offered tailored support upon arrival. This includes psychosocial counselling, vocational training, micro-business support, legal aid, and even airport ‘Meet & Greet’ services for vulnerable individuals.

Through careful pre-departure planning, returnees are guided to develop personal reintegration plans based on their skills and aspirations. A returnee from France, for instance, was supported in setting up a small-scale dairy business in Punjab, while a young man returning from Italy was offered carpentry training in Tamil Nadu.
Caritas India’s reintegration success lies in its robust network of 19 local partners across 16 Indian states. These grassroots partners are trained to provide discreet, dignified support tailored to each returnee’s social, cultural, and economic context.

The organization also works with the European Return and Reintegration Network (ERRIN) and programs like IRMA and CHOICES, offering a bridge between Indian returnees and European host countries. The Frontex-supported program, ongoing since 2022, alone has helped 265 returnees, of whom over 93% were previously engaged in unskilled jobs.

Reintegration is only one part of Caritas India’s comprehensive migration strategy. In 2018, with support from The Hague’s Ministry of Justice and Safety, Caritas led a Safe Migration Awareness Campaign across 13 districts of Punjab, India’s top source state for irregular migration. Using street plays, roadshows, radio jingles, and village meetings, the campaign reached over 1.4 million people, warning them of the risks of irregular migration and offering safer alternatives.

Media partnerships with Doordarshan, All India Radio, and leading newspapers like The Tribune and Ajit ensured that safe migration resonated far and wide.

A defining aspect of Caritas India’s approach is its commitment to transparency and accountability. Every reintegration case is documented, monitored, and verified, not just by Caritas India but also by local partner organizations. Site visits and regular follow-ups ensure that the returnee is progressing in their chosen livelihood, and necessary course corrections are made when challenges arise.

At the heart of this effort is respecting human dignity, regardless of caste, class, religion, or gender. Confidentiality is strictly maintained, and returnees are never treated as statistics but as human stories of resilience.

Despite its success, challenges persist. Delays in communication from returnees, incomplete documentation, and uncertainty around business planning can delay or complicate reintegration. Yet, Caritas India continues to adapt and strengthen its systems, conducting regular capacity-building sessions, learning exchanges, and expanding its reach.

As India stands at the crossroads of migration and reintegration, Caritas India offers a powerful reminder that humane, just, and sustainable solutions are possible. Every returnee helped is a life reclaimed, a family restored, and a future rebuilt not in exile, but at home.

As the world debates migration policies, let us remember the faces behind the statistics. With your support, Caritas India can continue to turn return into renewal. Join us in building a nation where every migrant returns with hope, not despair.