Kerala   

Plea to send high-level team to the UAE

Staff Reporter

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Association of Travel Agents has urged the State and Union Governments to send a high-level team of officials to the United Arab Emirates to help Non-Resident Indians who want to return home under the general amnesty scheme announced by the UAE Government.

Although it is estimated that two lakh Indians are staying in the UAE without necessary documents or visa, only 20,000 had approached the Indian Embassy and the Consulate in Dubai for securing out pass and passport. The general amnesty scheme is valid for three months from June this year.

According to association president K.V. Muralidharan, the fear that life-long ban will be imposed has prevented many from approaching the Indian Embassy and the Consulate for out pass and passport. The Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi should intervene and seek maximum relaxation for those returning under the general amnesty scheme.

The association has said those returning home under the general amnesty scheme should be allowed to return to the UAE or any other Gulf country if they have valid documents. Urgent steps should be taken to fill the vacant posts in the Indian Embassy and Consulate by deputing people from here.

Mr. Muralidharan said Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan should take the initiative to send a high-level team of officials from NoRKA-ROOTS to the UAE to make arrangements for the return of Non-Resident Keralites.

The association pointed out that the flights from the UAE will not be adequate if majority of the two-lakh Indians prefer to return back from the UAE under the general amnesty scheme.

He said either the Union Government should declare an open sky policy in the UAE sector or allow Air-India and Indian to operate additional flights.

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