The Chief Minister,

Government of Kerala,

Thiruvananthapuram.

 

Subject: Concerns of Indians living in Qatar and elsewhere in the Gulf Region

 

Dear Sir,

 

As you are aware, when the “VANDE BHARAT” mission was announced, thousands of Indians registered with the Indian Embassy to get repatriated to India. While most of the Indians prefer to stay in the Gulf despite having adverse conditions, a significantly low percentage of Indians want to return due to loss of job or ill health. A good number of families are facing difficult situations due to loss of employment and finding it difficult to pay house rents or school fee.

 

In Qatar alone, more than 50,000 Indians have registered to get repatriated, and so far, not even 10% of them were able to travel. Availability of flights under “VANDE BHARAT” mission is limited, some expatriate organizations and companies are trying to arrange chartered flights for the repatriation of Indians in dire straits, but facing a lot of hindrances in getting clearances from both state and central governments in India. We request the Government of Kerala to give necessary clearances for operating chartered flights to Kerala, and to put pressure on the central government for the required approvals for the same.

 

Of late, it has come to our notice that Indians who intend to travel to Kerala need to produce a report showing negative Covid-19 test results as a requirement from the Government of Kerala. We appreciate the Government of Kerala for exempting Indians living in Qatar from this mandatory requirement.  As you know, Covid-19 tests are conducted in the Gulf countries only in symptomatic cases, and cost for performing such tests is exorbitantly high in places where private providers are permitted to conduct the tests. While we understand that it is our joint responsibility to contain this pandemic in our beloved state of Kerala, kindly note that any measures which result in delaying the repatriation of Indians in the Gulf will further jeopardize their present situation, we hence request the Government of Kerala to withdraw such conditions requiring to obtain negative Covid-19 test reports to travel to Kerala by flight. 

 

Accordingly, we, the Qatar Indian Islahi Centre, hereby request the Government of Kerala, to support stranded Indians in the Gulf by repatriating them at the earliest.

 

With warm regards,

 

Abdul Latheef Nallalam

President

 

Shameer Valiyaveettil

General Secretary

 

Qatar Indian Islahi Centre

Doha - Qatar.