Indian missions in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have opened e-registration for expats wishing to travel back home amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Indian Embassies across the Gulf i announced the central government’s decision to repatriate Indian citizens. The e-registration is the first step.
“All Indian nationals in the UAE are hereby informed that the Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General of India, Dubai, have uploaded a form for (the) collection of data to create a database of Indians who wish to travel back to India under COVID-19 situation,” the Indian mission at Abu Dhabi said in a statement.
The Indian Embassy in Qatar tweeted: “We are collecting data about the people requesting repatriation to India…. At this stage, the purpose is only to compile information. No decision or details yet on resumption of flights to India.”
It further stated that as and when a decision is taken, the Embassy will make a clear announcement. “Please note that the form has to be filled separately for each individual, even if they are members of a family,” the Embassy tweeted.
The India government has directed the Indian Navy to get their big sailing engines ready to bring back citizens stuck in the Gulf countries due to the coronavirus induced lockdown.
The directions were issued last week during a meeting of three service chiefs and the Chief of Defence Staff with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Cabinet members.
Indian Navy and Air Force were briefed to get their machines ready in order to bring back the Indian citizens from the Gulf countries. Earlier, the Navy had carried out evacuation efforts in war-torn areas like Lebanon (2006) and Yemen (2015). Before that, evacuation was carried in 1990 during the first Gulf War between Iraq and Kuwait when around 1.5 lakh people were evacuated.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had stated that the missions in the Gulf countries were liaising with local authorities to move Indian citizens to one place. The Indian missions there have opened the registration process for Indians who want to return.
Several Indians in the UAE, including pregnant women, elderly patients, stranded visit visa holders and those who lost jobs, have been requesting their government to help them fly back home during the travel restrictions and lockdown imposed to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Keralites Abroad
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said 3,53,468 Keralites settled in 201 countries had registered on Norka-Roots portal to return, as and when the lockdown was lifted and airports opened.
A majority of this is from Middle East countries. It includes 1,53,660 from the UAE, Saudi Arabia (47,268), the UK (2,112), the USA (1,895) and Ukraine (1,864).
“We have decided to present the final list of prospective returnees to the Centre and also to the respective Indian embassies to make adequate travel arrangements,” said Vijayan.
Vijayan said 94,483 Keralites staying in other states had also registered to return. It included 30,570 from Karnataka, 29,181 from Tamil Nadu and 13,113 from Maharashtra. Students, pregnant women and senior citizens would get the priority.
The registration has to be done on www.norkaroots.org of the state-run Norka-Roots, the official body of diaspora.
The facility was launched by the Kerala government, after the Centre, following requests from several quarters decided to take a positive step.
Of an estimated 2.5 million non-resident Keralites (NRKs), 90 per cent are in the Middle East countries. Three-five lakh people are likely to return after the revival of air services.