National
Vayalar Ravi promises steps to ease problems of non-resident Indians

Renu Ramanath

A meeting of envoys to study details about Indians arrested in the Gulf

* Priority to issues faced by Indian labourers in the Gulf
* Bogus recruiting agencies perpetrating fraud on thousands an important issue
* Concern over delay in sending home bodies of those who die abroad

KOCHI: Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi has said that steps will be taken to ease the problems faced by non-resident Indians working in countries, especially in the Gulf.

Addressing a meet-the-press organised by the Ernakulam Press Club on Saturday, Mr. Ravi said a meeting of Indian Ambassadors would be convened soon to study the details of Indian nationals detained in foreign countries. It would take stock of the total number of Indians detained in the Gulf countries and the reasons for their arrest. It would also consider what could be done to get them released.

Mr. Ravi said the issue of Indian nationals being arrested for various reasons in foreign countries was grave. "We can only persuade the foreign countries to release them," he said.

The Government was planning to start centres for them in the Gulf, European and Far-East Asian countries under the Overseas Affairs Ministry, he said.

Mr. Ravi said priority would be given to issues faced by Indian labourers in the Gulf countries. Most of those in the labour camps in the Gulf were from south India. Kerala had third place in the number of workers in labour camps, with Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh in the first and second places.

People from India are migrating to about 110 countries, he pointed out. However, no official estimate of the number of Indians working and living abroad had yet been made. Only a World Bank study is available on the issue and, according to a rough estimate, about 2 million Indians are working and living abroad.

He pointed bogus recruiting agencies perpetrating fraud on thousands of gullible people was an important issue. Exploitation of women in the guise of recruitment to the Gulf countries would also be tackled soon.

Voting rights
Regarding the voting rights of NRIs, Mr. Ravi said the issue was in the final stage of consideration with the Home Ministry. The delay in sending home the bodies of those who died abroad was another major concern, he said. Though the Ambassadors were given a fund to meet the expenses in such cases, it was often inadequate. Steps would be taken to raise the amount, the Minister said.

Referring to the oft-repeated demand to slash ticket rates to the Gulf countries, he said the Government was not taking a positive stance on the issue. There was an opinion that allowing airlines other than Air India to operate on these routes would lead to competition and ultimately to slashed prices, he said.

Airlines company
Regarding the Kerala Government's attempts to float an airlines company which was awaiting Central nod, Mr. Ravi said he held discussions with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel though he had received no official communication from the State Government on it so far, except for a verbal information passed on by the Chief Minister.

Mr. Ravi said he would request the Civil Aviation Ministry to give exemption to the State-owned airliner company for operating overseas flights, considering it as a public sector unit. Regarding the possibilities of Democratic Indira Congress (DIC) leader K. Karunakaran returning to the Congress fold, Mr. Ravi said he was always welcome back so long as he was ready to accept the leadership of party president Sonia Gandhi.

Mr. Ravi released the souvenir of the Ernakulam Press Club by handing it over to the District Panchayat president P.S. Shyla.
(The Hindu-12/02/06, Sunday)