The deaths of 203 Indians have been registered at the embassy so far this year, the monthly Open House was told yesterday. The number of deaths registered during 2015 and 2014 was 279 each.
This was the last Open House convened by outgoing ambassador Sanjiv Arora during his assignment of over four years in Qatar.
The event is held to address urgent consular and labour issues/cases of Indian nationals in Qatar.
The envoy and other officials met all the complainants, discussed their problems and assured them that the embassy would actively follow up their cases with the authorities concerned in the Government of Qatar.
It was informed at the Open House that an embassy team visited the Central Prison and Deportation Centre recently to enquire about the welfare of detainees from India. The total number of Indian nationals in the Central Prison and the Deportation Centre currently is 139 and 77, respectively.
During the current year, the Labour and Community Welfare Section of the embassy received a total of 3,017 complaints so far. The number of complaints received during 2015 was 4,132.
On the basis of requests received from Qatari authorities for travel documents for Indian nationals in the Deportation Centre, the embassy has issued 68 Emergency Certificates in September 2016. The embassy also issued 18 air tickets to Indian nationals in distress for their return to India in September, 2016.
Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) continues to help Indian workers through various welfare measures, including provision of air tickets, financial assistance and medical help.
The Open House was told that nearly 1,200 low-income workers, including other nationalities, benefited from ICBF’s 27th free medical camp, organised with the support of the embassy and the Medical Commission of Qatar, and in association with Indian Doctors Club, Wellcare Pharmacy and other partners, at the Medical Commission Facility at Abu Hamour on September 23.
The turnout was the highest at any of ICBF’s medical camps. Voluntary service was rendered by several doctors and paramedics, Indian community organisations, students of Indian schools and embassy officials at the camp inaugurated by Arora.
The medical camp included a live demonstration of various Yogasanas for health and wellness by Yoga instructors. ICBF president Arvind Patil was also present at the Open House.
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