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19 March 2024

Ravi leaves debt-ridden NRIs with hope of 'crematorium'

India's Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi at the press conference at the India Club.

Published
By V M Satish

The Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi, has promised to use the Indian Community Welfare Fund in the UAE to set up a new crematorium and community centres in the UAE.

The minister said he would not commit even a small portion of the Dh8.5 million funds lying with the Indian Embassy and Indian Consulate in the UAE, to even partially ameliorate the situation of financially distressed members of the Indian community who sometimes resort to the extreme step like suicide.

ICWF is a fund created by the Indian Ministry of Overseas Affairs to help Indians in distress and in emergency situations abroad.

Speaking at a press conference at the India Club, the minister refused to even consider the suggestion of a group of Indian community associations that a part of the fund could be used to give small financial aid or loans to prevent financially distressed Indian families and individuals from committing suicide.

After the economic crisis worsened in different parts of the world including the Middle East, many Indians have taken their lives due to credit card and bank loan defaults and other liabilities. In Ras Al Khaimah, a three-member Indian family committed suicide due to financial distress, followed by seven other suicides by Indians in financial trouble. ICWFs have been set up in 43 countries around the world where Indian missions are operating.

ICWF is a fund created by charging Dh10 from new Indian passport applicants or other consular service users who visit the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi or Indian Consulate in Dubai. On a normal working day, if 1,000 people make use of consular services, about Dh10,000 is collected daily and during peak business days, the amount can go as high as Dh20,000. Thus, a huge amount of money is collected by all the 43 Indian missions handling the funds.

This money has been partially lying idle and community associations are keen that it be used for the welfare of Indian community members, especially from the lower strata of society.

The minister said he is trying to prevent people coming illegally to the UAE through fake recruitment agents and getting into difficult financial situations.

However, the minister said it is a serious matter that Indian money lenders and ‘blade’ companies have come to the UAE and operate here, harassing people. The UAE government should take action to control such activities, he said.

Community organisations have been complaining that the Indian consulate and embassy are sitting on the ICWF when extending small amounts of money may prevent some families and individuals from committing suicide.

The associations are asking Indian authorities not to give grants but small loans or short term credit that may help community members overcome short term financial problems.

“We outright reject such a proposal. This fund cannot be used for such purposes and it can be used only be used for five categories of welfare schemes,” the minister said, adding that the decision to finance a crematorium in Sharjah is based on the recommendation by the Indian Ambassador in the UAE NK Lokesh.

“There are many cases were some families can be bailed out with small loans ranging from Dh5,000 to Dh10,000. We are not asking the Indian Embassy or the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to pay their full liabilities but a helping hand may save many lives,” said Sethu Nath, president of Kerala Samajam, one of the 15 Indian community organisations that are running a campaign to stop or control suicides by Indian community members harassed by credit card companies and debt collectors.

“The money loaned to distressed families can be paid back by them either by selling their assets back home or by working here,” Sethu said.

He said member-associations of Karunya Kottayam have unanimously proposed that such financial support from the consulate would be helpful in bailing out some financially distressed families and individuals.

“We are not running a business here and we cannot use the fund for helping financially distressed people. We can utilise the fund only for five categories of welfare measures like creating shelter for distressed women, repatriating stranded Indian workers or community members or for other emergencies,” the ninister said. Indian Ambassador NK Lokesh and Consul-General Sanjay Varma said setting up a crematorium would help the Indian community.

While community members welcomed the decision to support the crematorium project, some are sceptical, saying the land for building a crematorium is given free by the UAE government and only four walls and two gas-fired incinerator machines are needed.

The Indian Association Sharjah Indian Association had already announced plans for a crematorium on a piece of land allotted by the Sharjah government. According to earlier reports, the Indian Association Sharjah had already invested Dh 500,000 to build a crematorium at Dhaid, opposite the cement factory.

Indian Community Welfare Fund

The MOIA has established the ICWF in 43 countries to provide onsite welfare services like boarding and lodging for distressed overseas Indian domestic and unskilled workers, extending emergency medical aid to overseas Indians in need, providing air passage to stranded overseas Indians, expenditure on incidentals and airlifting mortal remains to India or for local cremation, burial of deceased overseas Indians when the sponsor is unable to meet its cost. The fund is administered by the heads of missions in the following countries to provide on-site services to the Indian citizens in dire distress: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Malaysia, Libya, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Syria, Lebanon, Thailand, Iraq, Maldives, Australia, Canada, Mauritius, Singapore, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, UK, USA, Fiji, Reunion Island, Guadeloupe/St. Martinique, France, Germany, Guyana, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Kenya, Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Portugal, Suriname, Tanzania and Egypt.