India urged to revoke outsourcing

Dubai: Consular services outsourced to Empost by Indian diplomatic missions should be immediately stopped, a cross section of the Indian population resident in UAE has said.

This is because Empost has hiked its courier delivery charges from Dh15 to Dh50. The processing fee for passports and visas remains at Dh12 and Dh50.

Passport and visa services were outsourced to Empost earlier this year by the Indian Consulate in Dubai and the Indian Embassy in Abu Dhabi. However, all attestation work continues to take place at the diplomatic missions.

Indians resident in the UAE who spoke to Gulf News were of the opinion that the hike in the delivery charges proved that decision to outsource the consular services was wrong.

V.T.V. Damodaran, a social worker said: "The increase in delivery charges cannot be justified, especially during the present economic conditions. The blue-collared who constitute [the] majority of Indian expatriates cannot afford this extra amount at all."

He said expatriate organisations would approach the Indian government requesting a reversal of the decision to outsource the service.

"It is quite surprising that it happened just after the statement of the new Indian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sasi Tharoor that special preference will be given to Indians in the Gulf," he said.

Nilesh Bhatia, a banker said it is not just a matter of convenience of visiting an Empost office in the city centre. Bhatia said it was important to get proper and authentic services.

"We have to approach an external agency for what was earlier provided by embassy and consulate staff. If it becomes costly, the decision of outsourcing should be revised," Bhatia said.

Mohana Reddy, an Indian worker in Mussaffah in Abu Dhabi said he could not afford the new rates.

He said that while a trip to the embassy or consulate was time-consuming, the advantage was that there were no extra charges.

"It is too expensive for a worker like me," Reddy said.

Sultan Al Midfa, Empost chief executive, said that the hike in the delivery charges for passports and visas processed through the Indian passport and Visa Services Centre (IPAVSC) was considered after careful examination of all aspects of the IPAVSC operations.

He said this was in line with Empost's drive to maintain the highest standards expected by the general public.

Are fee hikes getting out of control? Do you think the services match the hike increase? Tell us

As with most other things these days costs are unjustly increased with the excuse of a better service. A proper service is yet to be seen let alone a better one.
Carlos Deiovanni
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 11:56

I do send parcel to my home country India for half kg it cost's me around dhs 18 the passport delivery charges should not be more than dhs 5
Vinod Bhatia
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 11:39

arrangement through Empost should be immediately stopped. We have lot of indian social organization who were arranging the same in the past with good track record.
Nazim
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 11:06

This is totaly exploiting the situation.External Ministry of India, does not understand of the peoples difficulties, because they earn the money without pain.
R. Guna
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 10:49

the fee hikes are unjustified, as from 15 to 50dhs, what services they have made better for this hike? its really squeezing the people for more money, give people more options.
Biju
Ajman,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 10:19

It is not at all acceptable the concept of outsourcing the service of consulate as it is very very important responsibility to keep its confidencial datas without the involment of a third party. I strongly request the concerned authority to cancel the decision urgently to protect the fundamental right of the people of India
Raman Mundoli
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 10:09

whatever the justification from the authorities to outsource the service and hikes in service charges are not acceptable. Even a penny hike affects the common people. We must raise our voice against such hikes loudly.
Naseer Ahamedkt
Ajman,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 10:05

the hike in fee has definitely crossed its limit and has become uncontrolable. by increasing the fee what extra services are they gonna provide us with? I believe they are just doing all this for their own motives without realising that they are making the lives of commoners hard.
Mufiz
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 09:56

Empost must be joking of "'its drive to maintain highest standards...". On more than 2 occasions, I have paid for their service and collected my consignment from their Ramool office, as Al Qouz was too far for them to deliver in 4 days after receiving it.
Stanley Cherian
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 09:56

Anything added extra to the may not be accepted by the general public, especially when many of them are low-income workers. If the earlier system was going on hassle-free, the embassy/ consulate must either revise its decision or request Empost to reduce its charges.
Agniyah Shaikh
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 09:17

Whatever be the reason, outsourcing such a critical service to an outside agency cannot be justified at any cost. Indian Government Officials are well known for their laid back attitude, lack of support to fellow citizens. This action is nothing but another example of the said attitude. It seems Indian Consulate Staff are here on a prizy Vacation.
Deepak
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 09:08

An outsourcing strategy should have an agreement of price / rate for a period of 1 or 2 years. This is a matter of great surprise and this shows the irresponsibilities of the Embassy to the people and also to the Nation. The population of Indians are high than any other expatriates, and the income will be high. This also needs to be considered while fixing up a contract. Empost should also think that maintaining high standards and quality is appreciable and any customer is ready to pay a small, only small premium for this. Being a committed representative of India Government we request all the concerned authorities including to take a strict action against these type of agreements.
Sreejith A. R.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 09:03

Empost staff are rude, ill informed and under staffed. Having said that i came out from the empost on sat in 3 hours which otherwise i would need to spend the whole day in indian consulate. So let there be both, for people who can afford and dont want to stand in the queue and those who cant let them go to the consulate..its a win win situation
Vijay Bhatia
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 08:32

It is a new style of Empost, last year they increased the Post Box Rent more than double. It is not a logical thing, when the charges increasing this much, when the customers getting in their custody.
Abdul Jaleel Pallipparamba
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 08:30

In addition to high charges levied by Empost may i please highlight the fact that Empost employees who co-ordinate and deliver couriers are outright Rude and Indecent having no respect for womenfolk .
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 08:12

The guys sitting at the counter do not even give the change back!!
Sanni
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 08:12

This is totally unjustifiable. The service is not even worth 15 dirhams, forget 50 dirhams. How can they increase more than 3 folds just like that.
Shekhar
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 07:44

Not only empost every such organizations increases the fee with out any proper justification but this line will be there. " This is in line with the company's drive to maintain the highest standards expected by the general public". Really dont understand what is that standard?
Shanker
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 07:39

These are the tactics played by EMPOST to increase the fees once everything in order. Otherwise consulate can hire services of other companies who can provide reasonable charges and service to Indian citizens. I urge Indian consulate to take urgent step to protect interest of Indian Citizens by find out alternative options.
Saji Maniyatt
Ajman,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 07:37

The empost charges for delivery of passports after stamping of a USA visa is only Dhs.20/- . Why the disparity?
T. A. Khan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 07:26

First of all I dont understand the logic of outsourcing a service which is very much of nation's security concern. If there is an option that these services are available at Indian council/embassy (at low cost but relatively more delivery time) and from Empost (fast but higher cost), customer can select whichever is suitable for them. From my experience, for a renewal of my son's passport I spent almost a day in Empost and it took 20 days to get the passport delivered.
Renny Jacob
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 07:07

The new delivery charge hike is totally unacceptable. Think about the people who are getting benifit. Empost may raise the delivery charges for visa which are mostly borne by the companies.
Fasiul Huda
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 05, 2009, 00:42