The NRI Guides Team regularly reviews this article to ensure the content is up-to-date and accurate. The last editorial review and update were on 25 October 2023.
MADAD is an online consular grievances management system launched by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in February 2015. The aim of the Madad grievance system is to extend a helping hand to Indians abroad requiring consular assistance.
Currently, the Madad portal is used by the Indian missions abroad and MEA’s offices in Chennai, Guwahati, Hyderabad and Kolkata to track and follow up on consular grievances. The full form of MADAD is (‘MEA’ in Aid of Diaspora in Distress). Madad is also the Hindi word for “help”.
This article explains the features and services offered by the Madad portal. You can also learn how to register as a user and file a complaint using the portal.
Table of Contents
Features of Madad Portal
Members of the public can register their grievances directly with the system, and the entire grievance-handling process can be tracked.
Among the chief characteristics of the Madad portal are to speed up the forwarding and handling of complaints, improve tracking and redressal and escalate unresolved cases.
Madad has several more innovative features, including a flexible architecture to deal with a variety of grievances, online filing and linking of similar grievances for easier retrieval and reference, automatic priority enhancement, colour-coded dashboards for easy assessment and monitoring, and an associated call centre to assist illiterate grievants.
The Madad portal represents a qualitative improvement over existing procedures for handling consular grievances, through online forwarding, tracking and escalation until their eventual resolution.
Madad has also been launched as a mobile app available on Google Play Store and App Store.
What Services are Available on the Madad Portal?
Under the Madad portal, you can lodge grievances relating to compensation, court cases, domestic help, imprisonment abroad, transportation of mortal remains, repatriation, salary dues, and finding out about the whereabouts of the deceased.
Problems pertaining to visa and passport complaints, document attestation, and travel documents will not be dealt with in this portal.
Madad Helpline for Indian Students
Besides consular grievances, Madad also allows Indian students studying abroad or looking to study abroad to register and submit their course and contact details so that they may be able to connect with the Government of India for future initiatives.
Student registration will help to compile data about Indian students studying abroad so they can be contacted in case of need. This data will also provide useful insights into immigration patterns and the courses Indian students are registering for. The entry of details is voluntary.
The MEA has stated that the module will be further expanded to include country-specific advisories, and links carrying information on accredited educational institutions in various countries.
How Students Can Register Through Madad Portal
Step 1: Go to the Madad portal website
Step 2: Click on “Registration of Indian Students Abroad”
Step 3: Fill up the online form, click “Save”
Step 4: Activate the link on your email
Click on the verification link sent to your email. You are now registered as a student.
Types of Complaints Under Madad
The following types of complaints are handled by the Madad Portal:
- Asylum Cases
- Birth Certificates
- Compensation Issues
- Contract Problems
- Domestic Help
- Dubious Job Letter/Employment/Company
- Fraudulent Calls/Emails
- Imprisoned Abroad
- Marital Dispute
- Mortal Remains
- No Obligation to Return to India (NORI) Certificate
- OCI Card Related Issued
- Passport Issues Abroad
- Physical Abuse
- Recruiting Agent
- Repatriation
- Salaries/Dues
- Seafarer Issues
- Sexual Abuse
- Sponsor Problems
- Student Issues
- Whereabouts Unknown
- Worker Abuse
- Others
Complaints Not Covered Under Madad
- For students’ educational matters and marital disputes please email Overseas Indian Affairs.
- For grievances relating to contract problems and recruiting, agents please visit the Protector General of Emigrants website.
- For grievances relating to commercial matters, please visit the Ministry of Commerce and Industry website.
- For grievances relating to visa and passport, emergency travel documents, and attestation of documents please visit the Ministry of Home Affairs website.
- For passport and emergency travel documents, please visit the Passport Seva website.
- For attestation or apostille of documents, please email the Attestation Section at MEA.
Important Points to Note
The Madad portal is for filing grievances by Indian nationals only. Foreigners may submit their grievance to the Community Welfare/Consular Section in the concerned Indian Mission/Post through email.
In matters like purely family disputes, seeking the help of Indian authorities in resolving issues in India, complaints with foreign airlines/private schools abroad etc., applicants are advised to approach the concerned authority in India/abroad.
To demand action against a foreign entity/individual, the complainant should approach the concerned authority of the foreign country.
Requests to file court cases in a foreign country/India on behalf of an individual may not be possible for Indian Embassies/Consulates as diplomatic entities.
Complaints against fraud (including online fraud) or any criminal activities are required to be filed with the law enforcement agency concerned. Filing a complaint with Indian Missions/Posts is not sufficient in such cases.
Even though personal issues in marital relationships fall beyond the ambit of consular grievance, Indian Missions would, however, readily assist destitute Indian nationals abroad, particularly women in distress and children, on a case-to-case basis.
How to Register Grievance on the Madad Portal
Step 1: Go to the Madad portal website
First-time users need to create an account by entering their name, phone, email and password as shown below.
Step 2: Click on “Grievant Registration”
Step 3: Fill up the form and click on “Register”
Step 4: Click on the verification link sent to your email
Your account should be verified by clicking on a link sent to your email.
Step 5: Login using username and password
After the email verification, you can log in using the username and password.
Step 6: Fill up the grievance form
You can file your own complaint or even on behalf of someone else. You will receive a reference number after submission.
The entire history of your grievance will be maintained online and you can check the status and updates by logging in later. You can also use the Track Grievance Status option on the home page.
Colour Code System
Under the Madad system, the authorities would be assigned responsibility through a colour-coded dashboard that would change colour if the response is not given in a stipulated time.
The colour code system will follow a red-amber-green pattern, ie, missions performing well in redressing grievances would be in ‘green’, while say those keeping inordinately pending cases would show as ‘red’. Maximum priority would be given to cases related to bringing back “mortal remains” of any national.
When the colour code changes, it will escalate the case to higher authorities and the entire history can later be accessed by the complainant in a summary or detailed format.
Madad Helpline Call Center
For any information and suggestions on the Consular Services Management System, you can call 1800-11-3090 (Toll-Free) or 011-40503090 (International).
Call Centre Timings: Citizen Service Executive Support: 8 AM to 8 PM except Saturdays and national holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can foreign nationals use the Madad portal?
No, the Madad portal is for filing grievances by Indian nationals only. Foreigners may submit their grievances to the Community Welfare or Consular Section in the concerned Indian mission through email.
How can I track the status of my complaint on the Madad portal?
You can check the status of your complaints by logging in to your account. You can also use the Track Grievance Status option on the home page.
Is there a helpline for information on Madad?
For more information on Madad System, you can call the toll-free number 1800-11-3090 or 011-40503090 (International).
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Copyright © NRIGuides.com – Unauthorized reproduction of this article in any language is prohibited. The information provided on this website is intended for general guidance and informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for professional advice, and travellers are encouraged to verify visa requirements and travel advisories through official government sources before making any travel arrangements.
Aneesh, the Founder & Editor of DG Pixels, holds a Master’s Degree in Communication & Journalism, and has two decades of experience living in the Middle East. Since 2014, he and his team have been sharing helpful content on travel, visa rules, and expatriate affairs.
My name is Ahmed iam a electrical engineer i have one year contract completed so i dont have iqama and four months salary due so i want to go india emergency exit so pls help me sir what i do…these is my mail id [email protected] pls send it any information…
Hi, Please contact your embassy and they would advise you on how to proceed.
Sir me Saudi Arabia fas gaya hu na to pesa na room Kapil paresaan karta maarta hai me house drive me aya tha mujse company karata hai plz help passport no k6256834 iqama no 2414148912
My name heasan my kapil not give salary job food nothing 6 months completed but no akama me go Indian embassy dammam my complaints no; 1543 no response aka a also not give passport not give taken me go India how akama also not give tourcher full hai pls help me 0534251938
Ansari
Sir iam in saudi arab
Plees halp sir
No pasport no mani no wark NO ROOM
plees halp sir
Im go india bat no psport no mani
Pless halp
My nambar 00966598553580
Sir mai saudi Arab me fasa huwa Hu please hamko yaha se nikaliye mbc helf nahi kar raha hai mera kappil subhan 7 baje se raat ko2 baje tak kam karata tha aor marta tha mai waha bhag gaya damam me hu mera passport no g9321121 acama n0 2339940583 mo no 0581423411
I am an NRI residing in Canada. My parents who are Senior Citizen have properties in our native land MAHE . My brother is also working abroad. Anti social elements interference in our property affairs, resulted in encroachment of our land with the help of the local Police. The local Police and anti social elements are physically as well as mentally harassing my aged parents. Can this be addressed in NRI cell as nobody is there to assist my parents.
Hi Rajesh, Madad portal is for acting on consular issues and problems faced abroad. This is a civil / criminal case inside India. So we don’t think Madad can help. Better to approach officials in your locality.
Mera ek admi soudi arbia me fans gaya hai uske lia madad chahia
….contd..,to redress the problems of suffering NRIs. Please seek the help of NGOs in all these countries to expedite issues, allowing them to interact freely & confidently with respective Embassies, who definitely should take the initiative upon getting intimation from MADAD
Excellent initiative under a very active & passonate Minister who is genuine in approach & keen to follow up cases brought to her Ministries notice… Hope the beurocracy will raise up to the task thereby trying to put in best efforts
Sir my name sujith iam working in Saudi Arabia, thermo saudi company
We are 26 employees sitting in accomadation
8 mont salary pending and all Labour iqama expire.without food . Our family tomuch problem
Company not take ani action
We are complaint in indian embassy riyadh
Sir please help us
Dear Sujith, Sorry to hear about you people. Only the Indian Embassy in Riyadh can take any action on this. We don’t have any direct contacts there. Please approach their labour complaints cell.
Is there any place where NRI/OCI can offer their services to the country at large, based on their experiences and qualifications.
There are some professionals who decides to be resident of India after serving other country for a while, so what is available engagement/Madad to them, even if they are offer their services free of charge.
Good thought Birendra. However we are not aware of any such option.
am unable to open the portal link tor egister.
Dear, The Madad portal has changed and we have updated the link in the above article. Please try clicking on the link again.
it is our privilege to have Sushma Swaraj ji as our MEA. After long years we have an efficient MEA who is working for Indians with the results clearly in front of us.
you make us feel belonged to india and we feel proud of you Swaraj ji.
OCI Application Status Details
SHIVJI LAKHMAN PATEL
date of acknowledgment 17-SEP-2015
File acknowledgment GBRL031B4M15
Passport no, 526442183
it is being under-process for last two month i am traveling to india on 01-12-2015 i need my OCI TO TRAVEL
Its the great and sensible step by our sensible External Affair inister Smt. Sushma Swaraj. Thanks.
I will say its great help to NRIs. Thank you very much to Indian Goverment. Lets post our issue and get helped.
Really its a fantastic job by India government …Hats upp madam….
Really appriciated Madam Sushama and her ministry started such a great effort to helping 1000 of people abrod.
Excellent initiative. Here’s a government who is doing something concrete in taking care of country’s diaspora, rather than just counting Forex inflow. There’s still need to monitor and maintain accountability of authorities involved.
Excellent…Finally a Govt back home, who really cares.