Amnesty seekers rush to collect outpasses

Dubai: Illegal residents rushed to the amnesty centre at the Indian High School to collect their outpasses, the distribution of which began yesterday.

The Indian consulate, which runs the centre, received more than 700 application forms, a record number since the amnesty was announced in early June.

More than 1,000 outpasses were distributed yesterday. "The outpasses are being printed in Dubai and we have sufficient stock to meet the demand. We expect the rush to increase next month," said a volunteer.

Without delay

Another volunteer said outpasses of applicants who had applied during the first week of the amnesty are ready for delivery. Govind, an amnesty seeker, said that he went to the centre early in the morning to avoid getting caught in the traffic congestion.

"Surprisingly, I reached here quite early and so was able to get my outpass without any delay," he said.

Venu, another amnesty seeker who received his blue-coloured outpass, said that he will not head right away to the airport but wait for awhile to see whether there is any truth to the rumours that illegal residents are being banned.

"There are so many rumours floating around about the ban. If they are going to ban me I will most probably stay back," said Venu.

The Indian consulate has received about 11,000 applications from Dubai and Northern Emirates.

B.S. Mubarak, Indian labour consul who was at the centre supervising and attending to queries from amnesty seekers, said help from the Indian High School came just in time.

"The school made arrangements for more chairs for applicants. We did not have a single applicant standing out in the sun," he said.