Abu Dhabi November 24:
President Pratibha Patil launched a 24-hour helpline and counselling service dedicated to help Indian workers in distress in the UAE, which is home to one of the largest Indian expatriate communities.
Patil officially opened the 'Indian Workers Resource Centre' that will provide the helpline service that is expected to quicken the mechanism to address any grievances they have. The President is on a five-day official visit to the UAE where as many as 1.75 million Indians work.
In a message on the occasion, Overseas Minister Vayalar Ravi said there are plans to set up such centres in other embassies of the Gulf countries. "It will provide financial, legal, psychological counselling and assistance," Ravi said. Indian Ambassador to the UAE, M K Lokesh said the project has been unveiled as all workers do not have "fairy-tales" to tell and their grievances needed to be addressed.
The 24-hour helpline, claimed to be the first such initiative in the world, is being started by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) to deal with problems faced by Indian workers. The helpline would facilitate early succour to distressed employees. "This will be an important step to take the grievance redressal mechanism to the doorsteps of the large number of Indians, who are in distress and in need of urgent assistance," Patil had said while leaving for the UAE.
President Pratibha Patil launched a 24-hour helpline and counselling service dedicated to help Indian workers in distress in the UAE, which is home to one of the largest Indian expatriate communities.
Patil officially opened the 'Indian Workers Resource Centre' that will provide the helpline service that is expected to quicken the mechanism to address any grievances they have. The President is on a five-day official visit to the UAE where as many as 1.75 million Indians work.
In a message on the occasion, Overseas Minister Vayalar Ravi said there are plans to set up such centres in other embassies of the Gulf countries. "It will provide financial, legal, psychological counselling and assistance," Ravi said. Indian Ambassador to the UAE, M K Lokesh said the project has been unveiled as all workers do not have "fairy-tales" to tell and their grievances needed to be addressed.
The 24-hour helpline, claimed to be the first such initiative in the world, is being started by the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) to deal with problems faced by Indian workers. The helpline would facilitate early succour to distressed employees. "This will be an important step to take the grievance redressal mechanism to the doorsteps of the large number of Indians, who are in distress and in need of urgent assistance," Patil had said while leaving for the UAE.
![[JUGRAJ SINGH]](https://www.unp.me/data/avatars/s/123/123038.jpg?1591210006){kind=avatar}
