Gujarat govt extending all help to distressed people returning from Iraq

Gandhinagar, 14 July, 2014

Among hundreds of thousands of people stranded in Iraq due to internal crisis, are thousands of Indian nationals as well – battling everyday to protect their lives – sometimes even without food and money to fulfill basic needs.

Repatriating from Iraq owning to war-like situation there, these people are under immense stress due to physical as well as financial crisis. In order to save their lives, many gave-up their months’ of wages to be used to pay off their loans back in India. Many others had to confine themselves into hiding for days without food and light resulting into physical and mental agony. And then there are those who experienced both the sufferings.

Playing a proactive and compassionate role, Gujarat Chief Minister Smt. Anandiben Patel directed the State Government officials at Gujarat Bhavan, New Delhi to work in close coordination with Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, and ensure smooth ‘home-coming’ of the Gujarati repatriates.

The Chief Minister directed the State’s Resident Commissioner based at New Delhi to ensure all the facilities to send these workers to their native towns. RC office coordinates with the Ministry of Overseas Indians Affairs and Indian Missions abroad for safe journey of these people from Iraq through various airlines and receives them at IGI Airport New Delhi. At Gujarat Bhavan, RC office has also arranged for doctors so that medical help can be extended to all those who need such assistance.

Swinging into action, Office of the Resident Commissioner, Government of Gujarat in New Delhi has chalked out a detailed facilitation plan to accommodate and sooth the returning Gujaratis. The RC Office has set up a 24 x 7 team to take care of the people returning from Iraq right from the time they de-board the flight to ensuring their safe and smooth arrival in their backyard in Gujarat.

Government of Gujarat through RC Office in New Delhi is ensuring their arrival in India, making necessary arrangements for their stay in Gujarat Bhawan, providing homely environment, buying their air tickets to Gujarat and ensuring timely and hassle-free departure to Gujarat.

Two officials from RC Office are deputed at IGI Airport on rotational shifts (especially for repatriates arriving between midnight to 5 am) to facilitate these people 24 x 7 access. The RC Office team is also extending all possible support to these people in distress in order to offer mental support and homely feeling to the repatriates.

Government of Gujarat is also ensuring the last mile transport for these people for their safe arrival in their native towns.

So far, the RC Office in Delhi has facilitated close to 40 such repatriates by ensuring their smooth arrival in Delhi, comfortable stay in Gujarat Bhawan, purchasing their air tickets and timely departure to their native places in Gujarat.

Having been traumatized for days in foreign land, the one thing that such people expected was hassle-free reunion with family. Understanding the plight of the natives, Government of Gujarat has taken proactive measures to ensure just that.