Non-Resident Indians Forum Karnataka to identify, honour Indians excelling abroad

MANGALURU: The Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) Forum, Karnataka, is all set to honour NRIs who have made a name for themselves and contributed to India’s growth.
The forum at a recent meeting chaired by its deputy chairperson Arathi Krishna said that owners and employees who own/work in establishments in Gulf countries and other nations contribute immensely to both Karnataka and India and their services should be recognized.
Acknowledging concerns raised by Zakari Hasan Shahid that most Indians who migrate to the Middle East in search of alivelihood and better lifestyle for their near and dear ones back home, are often shortchanged by their employers when it comes to paying them their meagre wages on time, Arathi said such persons should form a NGO to highlight their trials and tribulations. This NGO should present a consolidated report of such instances to the forum, she suggested.
Observing that the average Indian in Arab countries finds it difficult to get their grievances addressed by Indian embassies, Arathi said committees or forums of NRIs in the districts should liaison with the respective embassies and try to find a solution to the same. Such a step will ensure that affected Indians don’t feel neglected and at the same time, they are assured that they will receive help in one form or the other, Arathi added.
Problems faced by Indian students who go abroad for studies are myriad. The district-level NRI committees should work in consolidating the various problems that the students face in various countries, compile it and present it to the forum, which in turn will take it up with the respective union ministries for appropriate solution. The committees could also ascertain locally about the legal status of the various universities that attract Indian students, she said.
Many families face problems getting bodies of their kin who die abroad, especially in the Middle East, and are disposed as unclaimed bodies.
In such situations, it is important for district-level committees to inform the forum which can strive to get in touch with the Indian embassy in the country from where a body has to be repatriated home and also with the embassy of that country in India for timely assistance to the aggrieved families, Arathi suggested.