New iniative to give UAE Indians better consular access

The new system hopes to address grievances and answer queries to make consular services accessible for the approximately 2.2 million Indians living in the UAE.

DUBAI // An initiative that allows Indian expatriates direct access to consular officials without a prior appointment will be closely monitored to ensure it is effective, said India’s consul general in Dubai.

Officials will visit labour camps to spread information about the Open House system in order to reach out to workers and others in need of help, said Anurag Bhushan, who recently took over as India’s consul general in Dubai and the Northern Emirates.

Consular officials will be available from 10am to 12pm from Sunday to Thursday in the embassy premises in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai.

“People will get answers to their questions immediately and when that is not possible it will be placed in a register that will be monitored on a weekly basis,” Mr Bhushan said.

“Any unresolved issues will be checked by senior officers and if it is not handled then it will be escalated to my level. We aim for this to be a forum by way of which community members can reach out to higher officers of the consulate if their problems and queries are not addressed.”

A similar monthly redressal forum that offered financial and legal advice was discontinued two years ago because of a falling number of attendees.

Officials have decided to reintroduce the system after an announcement by T P Seetharam, the Indian ambassador to the UAE.

It aims to swiftly address grievances and answer queries to make services accessible and transparent for the approximately 2.2 million Indians living in the UAE.

In the past, visitors have complained of long queues, excessive paperwork and delayed responses. Community members said this often discouraged workers from approaching the consulate, compelling some people to try to contact senior officers to ensure their work was handled quickly.

“This new plan is an excellent one but you always hear so many great ideas so it will be best to see how this one is implemented and executed,” said Mansoor Ali, the general secretary of the Aligargh Muslim University alumni forum.

“You should not need to know anyone or have any personal contacts and connections to get your work done. This is our embassy and consulate and they are there to help all of us. If people can get their work done quickly and effectively without meeting higher officers and if labourers and workers also get the same quick responses then it will be a good initiative and will be most welcome.”

Unlike the earlier monthly format that worked as an open forum during which community members raised issues, in the new system counsular staff will be available to offer one-on-one advice on weekdays. Consular staff expect to address a range of queries regarding passports, visas and labour concerns.