Indian Association Sharjah gets new management

Sharjah: The new management of Indian Association Sharjah (IAS) has said its priorities include facilitating student admissions and crematorium services for Indians in the UAE.

The comments came on Wednesday night at IAS premises during the swearing in of the new IAS Managing Committee.

Selections for a new committee are held every administrative year.

The deputy consul general of India in Dubai, Ashok Babu, was the ceremony’s chief guest. He said expanding the capacity of Indian schools is high on the agenda as student numbers are increasing.

IAS-run Sharjah Indian School has had to build more classes to accommodate students previously attending in shifts. The demand for low-fees schools has overshot supply with long waiting lines for new admissions.

Also marked high on the IAS agenda is facilitating crematorium services for non-Muslim Indians, IAS President Y. A. Rahim said.

A new crematorium opened in Sharjah in February after efforts undertaken by the IAS and coordinated with local and Indian officials.

A crematorium in Dubai was running at full capacity and there were issues regarding coordinating last rites between emirates, Rahim said.

“With help from the Indian consulate in Dubai and embassy in Abu Dhabi, and the community, we could undertake this [Sharjah crematorium],” he added.

“We thank His Highness [Dr Shaikh Sultan Bin Mohammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah] and the government of Sharjah. They are quite encouraging and we’re quite indebted to them,” Rahim said.

Rahim said IAS had “taken up the issue” with Indian officials regarding flight cancelations and ticket price hikes in state airlines during vacations.

Other plans include more cultural programmes and upgrading the IAS community hall with a new sound system.