UAE | Visa
Amnesty seekers relieved as they get free passage
The first batch of Indian amnesty seekers given free tickets by community organisations in Abu Dhabi are flying to India.
- By Sunita Menon, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:13 August 22, 2007
- Image Credit: Atiq-Ur-Rehman/Gulf News
- Anand K. Pandey (right), Country Manager of Indian Airlines Limited, hands over a free air ticket to an Indian national at the Indian Association in Sharjah.
Dubai: Narayan and Santosh heaved a sigh of relief when they were asked to come forward and collect their free air tickets to fly back home.
"I got all my papers in order and I will be boarding a flight home on August 26. I still have some debt to repay back home, but it is better I leave now than end up behind bars," said Santosh, 28, an Indian, who came here like many others on a visit visa and stayed on to eke out a better standard of living for his loved ones back home.
Both these men were waiting anxiously among 36 other amnesty seekers at the Indian Association in Sharjah on Monday evening.
The tickets were handed over to the Valley of Love (VoL) a Dubai-based Indian organisation by good Samaritans and Indian airlines.
Among them were also those amnesty seekers who had their names placed on the waiting list by the VoL volunteers since their papers for amnesty were under process.
R.K.Nair a VoL volunteer said that the distribution of free tickets will be done in phases.
He said: "The next round will be held sometime next week. We are looking into the plight of amnesty seekers of all nationalities. We have Ethiopians, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis and Indians listed with us."
George another VoL volunteer who was seen explaining the importance of amnesty to illegal residents present on the occasion said: "We are trying to make them understand what amnesty is all about and that they should never succumb to unscrupulous agents. Each one of them had taken loans to get a visit visa to the UAE."
Latest news
- Sharjah boy tops Indian board's class 12 exams
- Dubai number plates auction raises Dh27m
- Youngsters dance and raise cash for charity
- Dubai departments upgrade services
- Get yourself a free test for diabetes
- Ensuring a safety net for intellectual property
- Reader's issue addressed
- 5,552 illegals held in Dubai this year
- Man cleared because he took drugs in France
- Man charged with trafficking women
- Auditors to probe Mizin graft case
- Breaking down cultural barriers with photographs
- Abu Dhabi Crown Prince visits Islamic centre
- Police's secret source scheme reaps rewards
- Phone Sharjah transfusion centre now toll free
Community Reports
-
Mirror, mirror show me the way
Driver on Salam Street had so many boxes and fruits piled into car, he would not be able to view rear or right side mirrors
-
Parents should be more vigilant
Reader's picture highlights risk of negligence by caretakers
-
Warming up to ‘Mobilise the Earth' theme
Dubai school dedicates a whole week to celebrating Earth Day with can-collection drives, sapling plantation and painting competition among others
-
Drivers using mobiles put others' lives at risk
Speeding is dangerous for the driver and other motorists
