Kochi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the United Arab Emirates was a historic event for bilateral relations but it turned out to be a disappointment for the lower strata of the Indian Diaspora in the Gulf region which had expected a string of policy announcements that would benefit them.
The majority of these Gulf expats are low-paid workers. For instance, an estimated two-thirds of UAE’s nearly 27 lakh Indians (not counting illegal immigrants), are blue-collar workers earning lower wages. Expats in Abu Dhabi and Dubai told BusinessLine over phone that they had expected Modi would use his address at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday to announce pro-NRI measures. That was not to be. Instead, in his 75-minute speech, Modi lavishly praised the Diaspora for their service to the nation and their role in developing the Gulf economies. But there was no takeaway from the meeting for the low-earning majority.
KV Abdul Khader, general secretary of Kerala Pravasi Sangham, said the extremely high fare charged by airlines, including Air India and Air India Express, on the Gulf route was the biggest issue for the Gulf Keralites. The airlines raise the fares during festivals. During the Eid festival, airfare had gone up by four to six times). Pravasi organisations have for years been petitioning the Union Government to check seasonal fare hike and to bring down fares during normal times. Khader told BusinessLine that the Gulf NRIs from Kerala had hoped Modi would announce steps to curtail the fares.
18/08/15 KPM Basheer/Business Line
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
The majority of these Gulf expats are low-paid workers. For instance, an estimated two-thirds of UAE’s nearly 27 lakh Indians (not counting illegal immigrants), are blue-collar workers earning lower wages. Expats in Abu Dhabi and Dubai told BusinessLine over phone that they had expected Modi would use his address at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Monday to announce pro-NRI measures. That was not to be. Instead, in his 75-minute speech, Modi lavishly praised the Diaspora for their service to the nation and their role in developing the Gulf economies. But there was no takeaway from the meeting for the low-earning majority.
KV Abdul Khader, general secretary of Kerala Pravasi Sangham, said the extremely high fare charged by airlines, including Air India and Air India Express, on the Gulf route was the biggest issue for the Gulf Keralites. The airlines raise the fares during festivals. During the Eid festival, airfare had gone up by four to six times). Pravasi organisations have for years been petitioning the Union Government to check seasonal fare hike and to bring down fares during normal times. Khader told BusinessLine that the Gulf NRIs from Kerala had hoped Modi would announce steps to curtail the fares.
18/08/15 KPM Basheer/Business Line
