Volunteers remember illegals' touching tales

Abu Dhabi: Volunteers helping illegal residents return home last year during the amnesty declared by the UAE were surprised to see an elderly Indian couple in their 60s among the group.

"Their tragedy still haunts me," says K.B. Murali, President of the Kerala Social Centre.

The husband was a prosperous businessman living in Abu Dhabi for almost three decades, but had lost everything in a legal dispute with his partner, he said.

A Pakistani family offered shelter to the couple who were from western India. "But they could not renew their residence visas and their passports, and on top of that they were suffering from age problems," said Murali.

The man hoped to win the case one day and regain his fortune. "But when he fell ill, he was desperate to return to India with his wife and took the amnesty offer," the social worker said. "It was an unusual case and rare to see elderly people suffering from such a problem," said Murali.

Abandoned

To add to their sad story, the couple's son and daughter who were living in India and doing well, had abandoned their parents and made no effort to help them, he said.

Another volunteer said he still remembers a housemaid who had forgotten the face of her daughter, since she had not gone home for 17 years.

The volunteers shared their experiences on the sidelines of a function organised by the Indian Embassy to honour them for helping amnesty-seekers.

Chandrakanth Ambedkar, President of the Maharashtra Mandal, said he was moved by the tears of a housemaid who was desperate to meet her daughter, who was just a baby when she left India.

"The woman did not have any documents to prove her Indian citizenship," he said. But Srinivas Babu, first secretary at the embassy, helped her get an 'outpass', he said.

Illiteracy is a major problem with illegal workers, said volunteers. About 100 volunteers worked for three months at the embassy and immigration department counters to guide the illegal workers. Indian businessmen provided food and transport for the illegal workers, in coordination with the Indian mission.

At the function, Indian ambassador Talmiz Ahmad said there was a need for a massive education campaign to help check the flood of illegal workers to the UAE.

"The UAE has been a home away from home for thousands of Indians, and we must not misuse the opportunity given by this nation to flout the rules and regulations," he said.

He later gave mementos and certificates to the people who helped the amnesty seekers.