Embassy of India

   Doha

 PRESS RELEASE

EMBASSY OPEN HOUSE –  23  SEPTEMBER, 2015

The monthly Open House to address urgent consular and labour issues/cases of Indian nationals in the State of Qatar was held at the Embassy on 23 September, 2015.  Ambassador Sanjiv Arora, Deputy Chief of Mission                     R.K. Singh and other officials met all the complainants, discussed their problems and assured them that the Embassy would actively follow up their cases with the authorities concerned in Government of Qatar. Mr. Arvind Patil, President of Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), a community association working under the aegis of the Embassy for the welfare of Indian workers, also attended the Open House.

Embassy officials regularly visit the Central Prison and Deportation Centre to enquire about the welfare of detainees from India. The total number of Indian nationals in the Central Prison and the Deportation Centre currently is 98 and 203, respectively.

During the current year, the Labour and Community Welfare Section of the Embassy has received a total of 3117 complaints so far. The number of complaints received during 2014 was 3943.

The number of deaths registered in the Embassy in September, 2015 so far is 11.  The number of deaths registered during 2015 so far is 209.  The number of deaths registered during 2014 was 279.

On the basis of requests received from the Qatari authorities for travel documents for Indian nationals in the Deportation Centre, the Embassy has issued 22 Emergency Certificates (ECs) in September, 2015. The Embassy also issued 23 air tickets to Indian nationals in distress for their return to India in September, 2015.

Indian Community Benevolent Forum [ICBF] continues to help Indian workers through various welfare measures, including provision of air tickets, financial assistance and medical help. The assistance given by the ICBF to Indian nationals during September, 2015 includes 5 air tickets for destitute workers.

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Doha, 23 September, 2015