Thousands wait to return home under amnesty

Muscat: The process of sending illegal Indian workers back to their country has restarted with over 2,000 waiting for their return, said the new Indian ambassador to Oman, Anil Wadhwa, yesterday.

"[A total of] 16,018 Indians had registered to return home under the Omani government's offer to waive all fines in 2005 and around 2,000 of those registered were still stranded here," he told reporters, adding that papers for 600 have already been processed and they are ready to return to India.

"The process has started and we are hopeful that the remaining overstaying Indians will be able to join their families back in India," he said. He added that there were more illegal Indian expatriates and over 1,000 are waiting for their turn but there's no information on their employment status.

He revealed that 13 housemaids were staying at a shelter managed by the embassy. "We provide shelter for Indian housemaids in trouble and we are also planning to start a similar shelter for male workers in distress," he added.

As for the shelter for male workers, he said that the Indian community's help would be sought to set up such an accommodation. "We do have a welfare fund here at the embassy but we need to use it judiciously," he pointed out.

He also appealed to all Indians residing in Oman to register with the mission. "We have an online registration form and we are also distributing forms to companies, Indian schools and cultural organisations," he said.

"The registration will give us data on Indians in Oman and that would be useful in case of emergency situations like Cyclone Gonu," he reckoned.

Praising the Indian community's work and response to Gonu, he said that rehabilitation work has started. "The community is meeting [today] to distribute some help to self-employed Indians as well as lower income Indian expatriates, who suffered material loss during the cyclone," he said.

New passports

He also revealed that the Indian embassy had received 7,400 damaged passports and all of them were provided with the new documents free of charge.

"Initially we had thought it would take three months to prepare all the passports but with embassy staff working until 11pm, all the passports are ready," he said, urging people to collect their new passports.

Help at hand

A hotline has been set up to help India housemaids/labourers in distress.

The number to dial is: 0968-24815942

"Any worker or housemaid in distress can call this number round the clock and answers will be given in three Indian languages as well as in English," he said.