The event was marked by the consulate’s appreciation of various officials from local authorities and community workers who have been volunteering their services to assist the consulate in meeting the needs of the Indian community
On August 1, the Indian consulate in Dubai celebrated its third anniversary of providing “365 days of service” to the Indian expat community in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, as reported by gulfnews.com. The event was marked by the consulate’s appreciation of various officials from local authorities and community workers who have been volunteering their services to assist the consulate in meeting the needs of the Indian community.
Since August 2020, the Consulate General of India in Dubai has been offering assistance to Indian community members in need of consular services throughout the year. The initiative was made possible with the continuous support from UAE local authorities, Indian associations, community welfare groups, volunteers, and partners like BLS International and IVS Global, who provide outsourced services to the consulate.
Ramkumar Thangaraj, Acting Consul General of India, along with Abdulla Lashkari Mohammad, Secretary-General of the Permanent Committee of Labour Affairs in Dubai, and Jitendra Vaidya, President of the Indian People Forum, were present to honor the officials and volunteers who have supported the Indian Consulate in delivering year-round services.
In his address, Thangaraj expressed gratitude to the UAE authorities for their constant support and acknowledged the outstanding initiatives and innovations of the Indian community. He emphasized that their support is crucial in enabling millions of Indians to succeed and contribute to the development of both countries.
The Indian consulate in Dubai takes pride in serving the largest Indian expat community in the world. On average, they deliver 1,800 to 2,000 services per day, sometimes even exceeding 2,500. Since August of the previous year, they have provided around 250,000 passport-related services, approximately 150,000 attestation-related services, repatriated the mortal remains of 78 individuals, and delivered various other services, making them one of the most active Indian missions worldwide.
With an estimated 3.6 million Indian expats living in the UAE, the majority residing in Dubai and the northern emirates under the consulate’s jurisdiction, the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi handles the Indian community in Abu Dhabi.
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The consulate also recognized various community volunteers who assist in solving labor cases and repatriating bedridden patients and deceased Indian nationals
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Additionally, representatives from government hospitals supporting Indian patients in need, the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children providing shelter to abandoned Indian women and children, and officials from local government departments were among those honored for their support to the Indian community in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Thangaraj also highlighted several initiatives to serve the Indian community, particularly focusing on workers. These include a project aimed at upskilling workers and a 24/7 helpline run by the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK) under the consulate. Recently, the mission introduced Artificial Intelligence-enabled features to personalize the services provided by PBSK, which also offers free legal and psychological counseling services.
Abdulla Lashkari Mohammad delivered his speech in Hindi, earning loud applause from the Indian audience. He emphasized the need to appreciate those who work selflessly without seeking publicity, contributing to the name and reputation of their motherland.
Jitendra Vaidya praised the significant improvements in the services offered by the consulate over the years and commended the consulate team for their tireless efforts, especially during the busy times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Advocate Bindu S Chettur, one of the legal counselors with PBSK who received an honor, expressed that many Indians have benefited from the free legal counseling services offered by PBSK. The support of community volunteers has been instrumental in helping those in distress.
The consulate also recognized various community volunteers who assist in solving labor cases and repatriating bedridden patients and deceased Indian nationals. Additionally, representatives from government hospitals supporting Indian patients in need, the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children providing shelter to abandoned Indian women and children, and officials from local government departments were among those honored for their support to the Indian community in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
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