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Efforts on to trace Goans hit by Iraq-Kuwait war

Special Correspondent

Many of them are yet to get compensation

PANAJI: The Goa NRI Commission is trying to track down around 200 Goans affected by the 1990-91 Iraq-Kuwait war, who are yet to receive their compensation approved by the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC).

The problem was that their whereabouts were not known to the Ministry of External Affairs, said Eduardo Faleiro, chairman of the commission and former Minister for External Affairs.

Mr. Faleiro told presspersons here on Monday that the commission would issue public notices to trace them.

"I am in touch with the UNCC office in Geneva. These people will have to contact the Special Kuwait Cell at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi to obtain payment of the amount approved by UNCC," Mr. Faleiro said.

The commission has asked the State Government to examine the feasibility of enacting a legislation on the lines of the Land Revenue and Urban Rent Legislation of Punjab to evict tenants in cases filed by NRIs. This would solve the present problem faced by Goan NRIs who look for government help to protect their property against encroachment.

Mr. Faleiro lauded the measures taken by the Government of Punjab the benefit of its huge NRI population. He mooted setting up of an NRI Sabha in Goa. The NRI commission has been trying to resolve several issues affecting the expatriate population. Mr. Faleiro has requested the Ministry of External Affairs to assist Goa in establishing an overseas employment agency in the State.

The Union Government has agreed to set up an office of the Protector of Emigrants in Goa. Mr. Faleiro said the Union Human Resource Development Ministry had agreed to delegate an official to be designated by the State Education Department for authentication of university and college degrees for employment abroad.

Mr. Faleiro said there was a demand for a fourth flight from Kuwait to Goa, but that was not possible because Air India had aircraft shortage.

Referring to the recent reports about Deputy Chief Minister Wilfred de Souza's talks with Emirates Airlines, which is prepared to operate a direct flight from the Gulf to Goa, Mr. Faleiro said the Civil Aviation ministry would have to examine whether the plan to introduce additional seats came within the ambit of the agreement between the Government of India and United Arab Emirates.

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Efforts on to trace Goans hit by Iraq-Kuwait war

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