The Hindu Business Line : Helplines by embassies for Gulf NRIs

ROUND-THE-CLOCK helplines will be set up in all Indian embassies in the Gulf countries to ensure that problems faced by expatriate Indians are taken up for redressal, according to the Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr E. Ahmed.

The first two helplines cell will start functioning from July in the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate office at Jeddah, Mr Ahmed told presspersons here.

The Centre is also thinking in the lines of holding an `open house' in the Indian Embassy and Consulate Office in Saudi Arabia on every second Thursday of the month.

During a visit to Saudi Arabia, the Minister had received several complaints relating to difficulties faced by the expatriates in the conduct of transactions with Indian embassies and consulate offices, not least of which was the levy of a high 50-riyal fee for documentations in the unfortunate event of death of an expatriate.

Thursdays and Fridays being designated holidays in Saudi Arabia, Indian workers had had to avail leave to visit the concerned offices. The `open house' would give them an opportunity to get their grievances addressed, Mr Ahmed added.

The External Affairs Ministry was also examining the option of declaring the helpline a toll-free service. According to Mr Ahmed, the 50-riyal fee for documentation and attestation in cases of death had been waived for the time being. A final decision would be taken after a detailed discussion at the Ministry level.

The Union Ministry had asked the Department of non-resident Keralites Affairs (NoRKA) under the State Government to codify various demands made by Indian, particularly Keralite, expatriates so that redressal of issues could be taken up in accordance with the rules and procedures prevailing in the various Gulf countries. Some of the issues needed to be addressed by the Indian Government, the External Affairs Ministry and the foreign Governments concerned. If the demands were codified and tabulated subject-wise, it would be easier to handle them.

Mr Ahmed also announced relaxation of some of the immigration rules relating to those falling under the `emigration clearance not required' (ECNR) category. So far, the ECNR facility was available only for degree-holders. From now on, the benchmark would be Plus Two certificates. Diplomas and certificates issued by Government-approved institutions would also be accepted.

His Ministry was considering a proposal to make SSLC the qualification for ECNR facility. Another proposal was to provide ECNR facility to those who gain employment visa and avail themselves of the insurance scheme of the Government.

With regard to attestation of papers for those seeking employment in the UAE, Mr Ahmed said he had held discussions with the Human Resource Development Minister, Mr Arjun Singh. The latter had been requested to either post more officials to Kerala to handle the attestation centre or grant the State Government the authority to attest the documents.

The Chief Minister, Mr A.K. Antony, had already informed the Centre that NoRKA was ready to take up the assignment. If the State Government were to be authorised, a few senior officials of the Education Department would have to be designated to certify the documents. The NoRKA could then collect the documents for attestation by the External Affairs Ministry.

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