Dubai, May 12: Free tickets are being offered by philanthropists and businessmen based in the UAE for deserving Indians who want to fly home.
Repatriation ticket prices have been set at around Dh700 to Dh750 per person depending on the destination. But there are many in UAE who cannot afford it, especially people who have lost their jobs or have medical concerns.
Malayalam Communications Ltd and its Malayalam stations (Kairali TV & Kairali News) are giving away 1,000 tickets free. Those who wish to apply can submit their application to [email protected].
Indian businessman Dhananjay Datar, chairman & managing director of Al Adil Trading Company, is also giving away 300 tickets. He is liasing with the Consulate General of India (CGI) for the names. “This is the time we need to rise as a community,” he said.
Besides taking care of airfares, Datar will also bear the cost of COVID-19 testing fees for Indians from the UAE.
“The repatriation efforts undertaken by the government of India is one of the largest initiatives. I am just doing a small bit to help the community. There are many people who are not in a position to meet the airfare and COVID testing costs as they have lost jobs. I will be coordinating with authorised entities handing this to lend my support,” he said.
Pravasi India Forum, a welfare organisation in UAE, is giving away 100 tickets. The NGO on Monday, May 11, uploaded a registration form where people can provide their details. “Tickets will be given to those approved by CGI and for those who are in financial distress,” said Abulaise, president of Pravasi Welfare Forum.
Punnakan Mohammed Ali, general secretary Incas UAE committee, said it is also ready to give away hundreds of free tickets but only to genuine candidates. “We will evaluate each individual and only if they are approved by the consulate, we will give the tickets. But we are ready to help.”
Those who want to register can get more details on www.pravasiwelfareforum.com.They can also call 055-1025611.
Need for more flights
The gesture notwithstanding, many Indians are still waiting to get news on their repatration.
Social worker Shukoorali Kallangal, President, Abu Dhabi Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC), urged the government of India to add more flights to accommodate more passengers.
“Emergency repatriation services are the need of the hour. There are several expats with medical, financial distress. For those who came with the hope of a job – that too is a thing of the past now. Right now all they want is to go home and start something afresh there.”
Kallangal said: “Take the case of pregnant women. In many cases, their husbands have lost jobs or have been asked to go on unpaid leave. They are living hand to mouth and cannot afford medical costs. Due consideration should be given to them.”
Sreedharan Prasad, another social worker based in Ras Al Khaimah, said he is currently dealing with several emergency medical cases.
Consul General of India Vipul said plans are afoot to add more flights in the next phase of Indian repatriation. “The number of flights are being decided by India in consultation with state governments. This is not a normal situation we all are in. We are in the middle of a pandemic situation.”
Comments
ALWYN,,,,THERE R SOME WHO WANT TO EXPLORE,,EVEN PARENTS ARE FINE ABOUT THIS BUT SOCIETY IS NOT ,SOMETIMES IT IS OTHERWISE,,,,ONE SHUD NOT INTERFERE TO THE CERTAIN EXTENT,,IN SOCIETY ONE SHUD KNOW HOW TO ACT AND TALK,,,,,ONE SHUD NOT HURT OTHERS,,,,LOVE JIHAD IS SERIOUS,,,THERE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO DO IT FOR FUN,,,AND SOME FOR DEMEANING THE GIRLS REPUTATION AND SOMETIMES EVEN THE COMMUNITY,,,,,,,SOME SOCIETIES ARE VERY REGRESSIVE LIKE MUSLIM COUNTRIES,,,,,,OURS IS OK,,,ONE SHUD NOT FEEL EVERYTIME IT IS THE CASE,,,,,WHEN A COUPLE ACTUALLY LOVES EACH OTHER THEY SHUD BE ALLOWED,,,,THATS THE WHOLE POINT.......
Doorway to Haven AK47 please help us, many of our girls are victim of Love jihad, this is other example. we are help less
NO DC OR BC CAN STOP THIS,,,,,,ITS HAPPENING EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD,,,,THIS TIME THE MALE WAS SAVED BECAUSE GIRL IS CHRISTIAN,,,UNTIL NEXT TIME,,,WEN GIRL IS HINDU,,,HE WILL GET IT FOR SURE,,,,,THEN WE WILL C WHAT DC DOES,,,,,NONESENSE PEOPLE TALKING COURAGE ON WEB FORUMS,,,ITS SO MANLY
Koti-an & other chaddis, BURNOL BODA
CHADDIGALIGE BURNOOL BAGHYA....
Shame !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on dirty mind people...........
its not coming from their back ..its coming from Hindutwa Activists mouth
These shameless goondas have no job but to create disturbance in society. Police should book them for wasting time and trying to create communal disturbance. Arrest the leaders of these goonda parties.
One who act against country's CONSTITUTION and tamperning the rules and contents of CONSTITUTION and playing against law and attacking on any particular community or conducting group clash; igniting communal clash is a terrorist and Government and Supreme Court must announce to whole nation and implement.
Then no one dare to show off with DHARMA;SENA; BHAKT BRIGADE etc.
respected deputy commission,
dear sir,
it has been a practice in dakshina kannada that , the sangha pariwar goons always accompany policemen for any raid , which was complained by them.
why you need sangha pariwar goons along with your police men? your police men are not enough to handle the situation? or the police men are also involved in sangha pariwar activities?
this is specially when they raid \minority houses, church, mosque and commercial places only. entire muslims in dakshina kannada knows this routine. thus the minorities are losing faith in police.
kindly requesting your good selves to stop this practice to show that your team is capable to handle any situation, and your team is not supported by the sangha pariwar goons."
Add new comment