A worrisome report on Punjab travel agents has come to the fore amid US deportation controversy. The police of various states have started a crackdown on illegal travel agents who allegedly sent the deportees to the US via the 'Donkey Route'. FIRs have been filed against multiple travel agents who have been accused of sending Indians abroad on fake promises via Donkey routes. Now, a report of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dropped concerning data on illegal travel agents in Punjab.
Ann MEA report has revealed that there are only 212 travel agents in Punjab who have a valid license. 92 percent of the travel agents of Punjab are working illegally. Only 8 percent of the agents come under the central guidelines. None of the agents sitting in immigration offices in 8 districts of the state have a license.
Out of 212 agents, the license of about 65 has expired. The central government has also cancelled their licenses at its own level. Illegal work of travel agents is going on on a large scale in almost every district of Punjab. This has also increased the possibility of fraud.
Dainik Bhasker reported that the central government is preparing to take action against many illegal travel agents in Gujarat, Punjab, Chandigarh, and Delhi. There are about eight districts in Punjab, where not even a single travel agent is registered in the list of the Centre. These districts include Sri Muktsar Sahib, Tarn Taran, Faridkot, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Malerkotla, Fazilka, and Mansa.
The Centre has reportedly listed a total of 2730 illegal travel agents in these districts. Central investigation agencies are preparing to take action against them. Separate action will also be taken based on files of 104 Indians deported from America by the Central Government.
'Most licensed agents in Punjab are registered in Jalandhar'
The largest work of legitimate travel agents in the state is done in Jalandhar. This has been claimed in the report of the Central Government as reported by the Hindi daily. After Jalandhar, the maximum number of travel agents are registered in Mohali and then Hoshiarpur. Jalandhar has the highest number of 86 licensed travel agents. Out of which the license period of 16 has expired whose licenses are going to be renewed. Also, four licenses have been cancelled.
Mohali is in second place with the highest number of travel agents having licenses. There are a total of 31 travel agents in Mohali who are registered with the Centre. After that, 22 are registered in Hoshiarpur, 20 in Ludhiana and the rest of the licenses are registered in other places.
One agent is registered in Fatehgarh Sahib (license suspended), 2 in Sangrur (one's license cancelled), 3 in Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (one's license cancelled), 2 in Moga district (one's license cancelled), only 3 in Kapurthala and one registered in Patiala and two agents are registered in Bathinda (both licenses cancelled).