Embassy open day for Indians to air grievances

ABU DHABI // The Indian missions are to host an open day next month to address concerns about consular and community matters.

"Any Indian national desirous to meet the ambassador or consul general regarding his grievance can do so without prior appointment during the respective open day," the Indian Embassy said today.

Last month, SM Krishna, the Indian minister of foreign affairs, visited the UAE and suggested that diplomats dedicate one or two hours every week to listen to the issues of labourers and respond to them quickly.

There are more than 1.7 million Indians in the Emirates. "First we would hold the open day on June 3 to determine about the response from the community, then we would go for regular meetings twice or once a month," MK Lokesh, the Indian ambassador, said yesterday.

The sessions will be for consular services such as passport renewals and attestations.

The ambassador said he would like officials to take immediate actions to resolve the community's problems.

"Already we have an entirely devoted centre for worker's grievances, the Indian Workers Resource Centre, so all workers' problems are handled by them," he added. "If we are going to receive good feedback from the community we will make it a regular meeting."

The open day, on June 3, will be from 3pm to 4pm at the embassy in Abu Dhabi, and from 10am to 11am at the consul in Dubai.

anwar@thenational.ae