Resource centre for Indians opened in UAE

Dubai: A workers' resource centre, including a 24/7 helpline, that would come to the aid of hundreds of thousands of Indians residing in the UAE was launched in Dubai on Tuesday by the visiting Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.

The helpline at the Indian Workers' Resource Centre (IWRC) could be reached at 800 INDIA (800 46342),

IWRC will also provide psychological, legal and financial counselling to those in need. One of the objectives of the helpline is to receive, register and monitor labour grievances, apart from tackling other issues

The centre is the first such initiative of the Indian government aimed at protecting its non-resident citizens.

The centre, officials say, is a major step forward in the welfare of Indian expatriates living in the UAE, especially blue collar workers. According to official estimates, 65 per cent of the Indian community in the UAE (about 1.2 to 1.5 million) comprises blue collar workers.

Patil launched the IWRC at the India Club last night, at a reception for the community hosted by M.K. Lokesh, Indian Ambassador to the UAE. The reception, attended by over a thousand people, was her first event in Dubai on day three of her five-day visit to the UAE.

While the helpline has started functioning since the launch yesterday, the counselling services will be rolled out in the coming weeks, officials said. The counselling will be delivered by a panel of trained experts including lawyers, financial consultants and psychologists.

Similar models

Based in Dubai and manned by about 14 to 16 people, the centre will cater to Indians in all seven emirates. The management of the centre has been outsourced to VFS Global, an Indian company.

If the pilot project of setting up the IWRC is successful then similar models will be replicated by the government in other countries. Grievances of serious nature that come to the attention of the authorities through the centre will be taken up by the consulate or the embassy. Individual cases will then be taken up through relevant UAE authorities, such as the Ministry of Labour, if necessary.

IWRC will also hold regular awareness campaigns.

Patil landed in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, following which she met President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and General Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

Today, she is expected to meet His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. In the evening, she will have an interaction with the academic community at the Dubai Men's College in Dubai Academic City.

Her maiden visit will conclude tomorrow following the inauguration of Indian Trade Exhibition Centre in Sharjah and a business meeting at the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Dial 800 India

Services

n 24x7 toll-free helpline

n Receive, register and monitor the grievance petitions

n Conduct awareness classes and offer counselling sessions

n Toll free telephone helpline

n All calls will be registered and a reference number will be issued

n The IWRC will manage a shelter home for runaway housemaids and deserted housewives

n Additionally there will be a walk in counter at the missions in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to receive petitions directly from workers. The counters will work from 3pm to 7pm.

— R.A.