Kuwait’s bill on workers rings alarm bells in India

Kuwait’s bill on workers rings alarm bells in India

7-8 Lakh Indians May Have To Leave Gulf Nation If Law Is Passed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  06.07.2020

A draft bill to reduce the number of foreign workers in Kuwait has been deemed constitutional by the legal and legislative committee of the Gulf nation’s National Assembly. While the bill still has to be vetted by another committee, as Kuwait chalks out a more comprehensive plan to cut down on foreign workers, it has led to fears in India that as many as 7-8 lakh Indians could be forced out of Kuwait if the bill is enacted into law.

The bill proposes that the number of Indians, who form the largest expatriate community in Kuwait, be reduced to 15% of the country’s 4.8 million population. Indians number about 1.4 million in the country and 15% quota would mean their presence reducing to around 6.5-7 lakh.

The bill, however, proposes similar quotas for other nationalities too. It calls for reducing the number of Egyptians, who form the second largest expatriate community, to 10% of Kuwait's total population.

Kuwait is also a top source of remittances for India. In 2018, India received close to $4.8 billion from Kuwait as remittances.

With its own citizens turning into a minority, Kuwait has been working to reduce its dependence on foreign workers. The bill is seen as a manifestation of the fact that Kuwait no longer wants to remain an expat-majority nation. Covid-19 and the slump in oil prices have also been contributing factors.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Gulf News reported last week, there has been a spike in anti-expat rhetoric as lawmakers and governmental officials call for reducing the number of foreigners in Kuwait. In the middle of this, Kuwait’s PM Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah proposed reduction in the number of expats from 70% to 30% of the total population.

Official sources said the Indian embassy was closely following developments related to the proposed legislation. India has so far not made any statement on the issue.

India has often in the past played up the role of Indian community in Kuwait as an important factor in bilateral ties. As the MEA says, Indians are present in all segments of society in Kuwait and are largely considered disciplined, hardworking and law-abiding.

The Indian embassy in 2009 had set up an Indian Workers’ Welfare Centre which provides a labour complaint redressal mechanism and accommodation for domestic workers in distress, a work contract attestation system, a toll free 24x7 telephone helpline, a free legal advice clinic and also a helpdesk to guide Indian nationals on problems faced by them.

The bill proposes that the number of Indians, who form the largest expatriate community in Kuwait, be reduced to 15% of the country’s 4.8 million population. About 1.4 million Indians reside in Kuwait

Kuwait’s plan to cut down on foreign workers worries India

Kuwait’s plan to cut down on foreign workers worries India

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: 06.07.2020

A draft bill to reduce the number of foreign workers in Kuwait has been deemed constitutional by the legal and legislative committee of the Gulf state’s National Assembly.

While the bill still has to be vetted by another committee, as Kuwait chalks out a more comprehensive plan to cut down on foreign workers, it has led to fears in India that as many as 7-8 lakh Indians could be forced out of Kuwait if the bill is enacted into law.

The bill proposes that the number of Indians, who form the largest expatriate community in Kuwait, be reduced to 15% of the country’s 4.8 million population. Indians number about 1.4 million in the country and 15% quota would mean their presence reducing to around 6.5-7 lakh.

The bill, however, proposes similar quotas for other nationalities too. It calls for reducing the number of Egyptians, who form the second largest expatriate community, to 10% of Kuwait’s total population.

Kuwait is also a top source of remittances for India. In 2018, India received close to $4.8 billion from Kuwait as remittances. With its own citizens turning into a minority, Kuwait has been working to reduce its dependence on foreign workers. The bill is seen as a manifestation of the fact that Kuwait no longer wants to remain an expat-majority nation. Covid-19 and the slump in oil prices have also been contributing factors.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Gulf News reported last week, there has been a spike in anti-expat rhetoric as lawmakers and governmental officials call for reducing the number of foreigners in Kuwait. In the middle of this, Kuwait’s PM Sheikh Sabah Al Khalid Al Sabah proposed reduction in the number of expats from 70% to 30% of the total population.

Official sources said the Indian embassy was closely following developments related to the proposed legislation. India has so far not made any statement on the issue. India has often in the past played up the role of the Indian community in Kuwait as an important factor in bilateral ties.

The bill proposes that the number of Indians, who form the largest expatriate community in Kuwait, be reduced to 15% of the country’s 4.8 million population. About 1.4 million Indians reside in Kuwait

Visa process starts for 11 countries

Visa process starts for 11 countries

New Delhi: 02.07.2020

Amid the ongoing pandemic, foreign missions in India have gradually started resuming visa application processes. VFS Global on Wednesday said this process has restarted for specific categories for the UK, Ireland, South Korea, Turkey, UAE, Italy, Norway, Belarus, Denmark, Dominican Republic and Portugal in some cities, with the approval of respective embassies in India.

It is yet to announce visa resumption dates for big destinations like the US and Canada. VFS serves 51 client governments in India and had handled 60 lakh visa applications here in calendar year 2019.

The UK will begin accepting applications for all visa categories in 11 cities beginning July 6 and Ireland will do so only for student and long-stay categories for now. Turkey, Belarus and UAE (DVPC-eVisas for Emirates passengers only for travel from July 7) have started accepting applications for all categories in Delhi and online (for UAE). Italy, Denmark, Norway and Portugal will, for now, take only for some categories (see box) in Delhi alone. TNN

UK to process visas from July 6

UK to process visas from July 6

Ireland, Too, Will Start Processing Visas Of City Applicants On Same Date

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 2.7.2020

With international flights set to start, the UK and Ireland will start processing visas from applicants in Chennai from July 6. While people can apply for all category visas to the UK, only student visas and long stay visas will be issued to Ireland.

City residents are also allowed to apply for visas for Belarus, Denmark, Norway, Portugal and the Dominican Republic by submitting applications and documents in Delhi.

As lockdown restrictions continue and international air travel opens up gradually, countries have started to allow visa processing in India.

Pranav Sinha, regional head (west & south India, Maldives, Sri Lanka) for VFS Global said in an online interaction on Tuesday that there would not be much of a change in visa application process because of the pandemic though applicants may have to take precautions and maintain social distancing inside VFS centres.

Though VFS will be using the same strength of staff at its centres, the number of appointments given per day may depend on the numbers allotted by the country to which visa is applied.

“The number of appointments may go up gradually. If people do not want to come to the centres to give biometrics, we have a system to send staff to the doorstep of applicants,” he added.

However, there is no clarity yet on whether foreign governments will ask applicants to submit health documents especially for those who had recovered from Covid-19.

He also said: “Governments may introduce health screening measures going forward, so applicants should make sure to go through updated document checklist for the country in case any medical and vaccination histories are required as part of visa application.”

Basheer Ahmed of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) said: “This will help people to renew visa and also apply for visa for travel at a later date. People can also apply for visa for travel in August or September by showing a booking certificate for a later date so that they will be able to travel soon after resumption of flights.”

VISA APPLICATIONS OPEN FOR THE FOLLOWING COUNTRIES

UK, Ireland: July 6 (Chennai)

Belarus (all categories): July 1 (Delhi)

Denmark (Residence permit, employment, dependent): June 29 (Delhi)

Norway (residence permit): June 29 (Delhi)

Portugal (E6 for holders of expired Portugues residence

card, D6 for holders of expired family reunion, D6 visa): June 29 (Delhi)

Dominican Republic (work/resident/busines visa) : June 29 (Delhi)

Visa processing for UK will resume July 6

Visa processing for UK will resume July 6

01.07.2020 TOI 

Visa processing for the UK will resume in India on July 6 in a phased manner. UK visa application centres in Delhi, south Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Cochin, Hyderabad, Jalandhar, Kolkata and Pune will open first. VFS is expected to announce on Wednesday when visa processing for some other countries will resume in India.

Donation to medical college

07/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTCHENNAI

The Tamilnadu Foundation, a 45-year- old charitable trust set up by NRIs (Tamils) in the U.S., has donated funds to procure a polymarase chain reaction testing equipment to the Stanley Medical College Hospital.

An advance cheque for ₹16.17 lakh was handed over to the college dean P. Balaji. “We hope to collect more funds to help in fighting COVID-19 in other medical colleges, said S. Rajarethinam, chairman of the Foundation in a press release.

Indian-origin

man charged   08.04.2020

Singapore: An Indian-origin man was charged with breaching ‘stay at home’ notice in Singapore . Palanivelu Ramasamy, 48, was given a ‘stay-home’ notice on March 21 by an Immigration and Checkpoints Authority officer, Channel News Asia reported. However, Ramasamy, a newspaper delivery man, allegedly left his apartment in Block 105 Towner Road on March 30 without reasonable excuse. PTI

120 Indian students stuck in Philippines await govt help

TNN | Mar 21, 2020, 04.11 AM IST

Madurai: As many as 120 Indian students pursuing medicine (MD) in four colleges in Philippines who spent three days at the Manila airport and were forced to return to their hostels, are waiting for the Indian government’s help to be repatriated. The students who reached the airport on March 17 came to know that their tickets were cancelled just before they were to board their flight on March 18.

They stayed in the Manila airport till March 20 before being forced to leave. The students from Lyceum Northwestern University in Dagupan, AMA College in Makatie, University of Perpetual in Las Pinas and PLT College in Bayombong, include 25 from Tamil Nadu. The others hail from Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, Gujarat and Rajasthan.

“Following a spurt in Covid-19 cases Philippines was given level 3 alert, and the government announced closure of all the cities on March 16. Educational institutions and work places were closed for 35 days. We were given an option to stay in the hostels but were warned that there could be difficulty in serving food if the shops are closed,” said R Godwin Leo, 19, from Vattam in Kanyakumari district.

Godwin, who is studying in the Lyceum Northwestern University said that he and other students booked their flight tickets on March 17. “It is an eight-hour journey by road to cover the 400km distance to the Manila airport. Twenty-five students from my college reached the airport in the evening in a hired van. We completed the immigration formalities and were collecting the boarding passes when trouble began,” he said.

Moments before they could board the flight they were informed by the Air Asia staff that their tickets have been cancelled and that India will not be permitting flights from the Philippines and many other countries. The students said they stayed in the airport with the hope of getting help from the Indian embassy to fly home. They said the embassy officials reached them on March 18 and assured to repatriate them.

“But the officials did not respond to our calls or messages. We started making videos and sharing them on social media to get the government’s attention. But on 19th, embassy officials asked us to leave the airport and return to our colleges,” he said and added that the students, however, stayed in the airport with some hope to fly to India.

“We spent three days in the airport without proper food. At last around 11.15 on Friday morning the embassy officials with the help of the airport police forced us to leave the airport. They said there are no flights to India till March 31,” said Aarthy Satheesh Kumar of Chennai. Left with no other option, the students started back to their hostels.

On reaching their hostels they were allowed to stay during the closure period. But the hostels told them that they would not be served breakfast throughout this period.

The students have appealed to the governments of India and Philippines to repatriate them as they fear getting infected by the virus as it is fast spreading there.

75 stuck in Singapore await MEA nod to return

The students fear deportation to Manila

20/03/2020, RAMESH SUSARLA,ANANTAPUR

While around 343 Indian students reached Delhi and Visakhapatnam on Wednesday from Kuala Lumpur after getting stuck there for more than 18 hours, 75 students from the University of Perpetual, Manila, are still stuck at the Singapore airport awaiting permission from the Ministry of External Affairs to return home.

On Thursday (11 a.m. IST and 1.30 p.m. Singapore local time), K. Namratha Reddy, a medical student from Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh, and Manasa from Bengaluru, both from the same university in the Philippines, told The Hindu over phone that while 70 students were still stuck in Manila, a batch of 50 students bound for Mumbai and 25 to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, had arrived at Singapore on March 17 and 18, but were not being allowed to fly out.

“The Indian High Commission in Singapore is in touch with us, but it has expressed its inability to do anything unless the Indian government give permission to fly into India. We are worried that we will be deported to Manila as we are on a transit visa in Singapore,” Ms. Manasa said.

Parents of the 75 students appealed to the Indian government to make early arrangements to bring back their children.

கொரோனாவால் மொபைல் மூலம் திருமணம்

Updated : மார் 18, 2020 00:41 | Added : மார் 18, 2020 00:40 

ஐதராபாத்,: உலகையே அச்சுறுத்தி வரும் 'கொரோனா' வைரஸ் காரணமாக, தெலுங்கானாவில், ஒரு ஜோடி, 'மொபைல்' போன் மூலம் திருமணம் செய்து கொண்டது. சவுதி அரேபியாவில், ஐந்து ஆண்டுகளாக பணியாற்றி வருபவர், முகமது அத்னன் கான். இவருக்கு, திருமணம் நிச்சயிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது.

வருத்தம்

இதையொட்டி, அவர், சவுதியில் இருந்து விமானம் மூலம், தெலுங்கானா மாநிலம் கம்மம் நகருக்கு வர இருந்தார். ஆனால், கொரோனா வைரஸ் காரணமாக, திடீரென விமான போக்குவரத்து ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டதால், அவரால் முன்னதாக வர முடியவில்லை. வேறு நாடு வழியாக, நேரடியாக திருமண மண்டபத்திற்கு வர முயற்சித்தும் முடியவில்லை. இதனிடையே, திருமண நாளும் வந்தது. மணமகன் மற்றும் மணப்பெண் வீட்டார், மண்டபத்தில் காத்திருந்தபோது, 'தன்னால் திருமணத்திற்கு வர முடியவில்லை' என, முகமது அத்னன் மொபைல் போனில் வருத்தத்துடன் கூறினார். உடனே, மொபைல் போன் வழியாக திருமணம் நடத்த, இரு தரப்பு வீட்டாரும் முடிவு செய்தனர்.

அதன்படி, மொபைல் போனின், 'வீடியோ கால்' வாயிலாக முகமது அத்னன் திரையில் தோன்ற, இங்கு மணப்பெண் அமர்ந்திருக்க, இஸ்லாமிய வழக்கப்படி, 'நிக்கா' சடங்குகள் நடைபெற்றன. வாழ்த்துமணமகன் மொபைல்போன் வாயிலாக, திருமணத்திற்கு சம்மதம் தெரிவித்தார். இதையடுத்து, மணமகள் சம்மதத்துடன் திருமணம் இனிதே முடிந்தது. திருமணத்திற்கு வந்திருந்தோர், மொபைல் போன் வழியாகவே, மணமகனுக்கு வாழ்த்து தெரிவித்தனர்.

India’s ban on OCI cardholders sparks panic, anger, acceptance

Naomi Canton

17.03.2020

Thousands of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders have been forced to cancel trips to India owing to the recent ban on their entry by the GOI and are apprehensive they will not be able to get back in the event of an emergency.

Dozens managed to get last minute-flights before the ban on visa-free entry to OCI cardholders came into effect on Friday.

Tara Sahgal, a student a King’s College, London, bought a last-minute ticket to Delhi, as she is convinced the pandemic will get worse in the UK. “They are doing nothing to stop the spread in Britain and the UK is going to be the next Italy. It is unfair because OCI cardholders are as Indian as anyone else. If there is an epidemic, we need to go home,” the 19-year-old said.

Others who rushed back included pupils at private schools in Britain and those with business in India.

“At least, the Indian government is taking drastic action to avoid the virus spread. The UK is leaving everything in God’s hands,” said Harendra Jodha, head of the Rajasthan Association UK. “Those who flew back feel they can get cheaper and better treatment in India and that is where their family is,” Jodha said.

“People think the NHS can’t cope. You can’t even get through to the NHS number. The UK should ask the world for help and not have such a big ego. Other countries can send testing kits. This is about humanity. People who are OCI cardholders still feel they are Indian citizens. This is the first time they have felt they are a bit different and not equal to Indian citizenship. But they understand the government rationale,” Jodha added. There is a Covid-19 emergency visa form for OCI cardholders online, but Jodha said there was still a sense of fear in people’s minds.

Nandini Singh, from Reach India, said OCI cardholders forced to cancel trips home accepted the decision, as they did not want India to become like China or Italy.

Full report on www.toi.in

Indian-origin students abroad grapple with rising uncertainty

Students Looking For Accommodation Amid Travel Restrictions

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:15.03.2020

Indian students abroad who are being encouraged to move out from universities’ halls of residences are largely looking for accommodation locally and preferring to stay put rather than flying out. Help has come from unexpected quarters and in the time and age of social media, friends, family and even strangers are offering a couch and a meal. But not everyone is lucky. Stuck in cities that are completely locked out, many are homesick and waiting to return.

Residential and travel restrictions imposed across several universities in the US saw unsure Indian origin students grappling with fast-paced changes. Labelling their furniture and moving them to large common storage rooms, returning their keys and suddenly hunting for a space to live in has not been easy on them.

Amidst all that, hope and help has come from Indians in the USA. Ashok Kolla, chairman TEAM Square of the Telugu Association of North America (TANA), said, “We have helped 24 students find accommodation after their universities asked them to leave campus. These include students from Ohio, Atlanta and California.” Kolla added that the stranded students had been put up at motels run by Indians free of cost. Also, a few Indian families have come forward to take them home.

A graduate student from Bengaluru, who is currently pursuing a certificate in advance management course to get into an MBA programme at Babson College, Wellesley, Boston, confirmed that international students had been asked to leave campus. “I live outside campus and hence, was not affected.”

Rao Maddukkuri, whose son Akhil is in the third year of his undergraduate course in management sciences engineering at Stanford University, said officials had advised international students to leave, but those who could not were being allowed to stay on.

Kolkata-based Dr Sabyasachi Mitra, whose son studies computer engineering with Maths honours at Purdue University, is very anxious. “My son, Rishi, wanted to return. However, I asked him to stay back. The health infrastructure there would be better geared to fight this outbreak. Coming on a flight and going through airports will make him more risk-prone.”

Delta is temporarily suspending service between JFK and Mumbai from next Tuesday. The last flight from JFK to Mumbai will operate on Saturday (March 14). The last flight from Mumbai to JFK will operate on Monday (March16),” the airline said.

Full report on www.toi.in

STUCK: A student carries a box to her dorm at Harvard University, after the school asked its students not to return to campus after spring break and said it would move to virtual instruction for classes

வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியர்களுக்கு வருமான வரி இல்லை: நிர்மலா

Updated : பிப் 02, 2020 21:23 | Added : பிப் 02, 2020 21:12 |

புதுடில்லி: வெளிநாடு வாழ் இந்தியர்களின் வருமானத்தின் மீது வரி விதிக்கப்படமாட்டாது என்று மத்திய நிதியமைச்சர் நிர்மலா சீதாராமன் தெரிவித்தார்.

2020ம் ஆண்டிற்கான பட்ஜெட் பார்லியில் சனியன்று தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டது. பட்ஜெட்டில், வெளிநாடுகளில் பணியாற்றுபவர்களின் வருமானம் மற்றும் சொந்தமாக தொழில் நடத்தி அங்கேயே வாழும் இந்தியர்களின் வருமானம் மீதான வரிவிதிப்பு தொடர்பாக தெளிவான விளக்கம் இடம்பெறவில்லை என்ற சர்ச்சை எழுந்தது.

இதுகுறித்து விளக்கமளித்துள்ள நிதியமைச்சர் நிர்மலா சீதாராமன், வெளிநாடுகளில் வாழும் இந்தியர்களின் வருமானத்துக்கு வரி விதிக்கும் எண்ணம் மத்திய அரசுக்கு இல்லை என்று உறுதியாக கூறினார். ஆனால், வெளிநாட்டில் சம்பாதித்த பணத்தில், சொந்த ஊரில் சொத்துக்கள் வாங்கினாலும் அதன்மூலம் வருமானம் கிடைத்தாலும், அதற்கு மட்டுமே வரி விதிக்கப்படும் என்றும் நிர்மலா சீதாராமன் தெளிவுபடுத்தியுள்ளார்.

34 lakh OCI cards issued: Centre

MHA declines to give info on number of persons whose cards were cancelled

12/01/2020


The Union Home Ministry has said more than 34 lakh Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) registrations had been done but declined to divulge information relating to the number of persons whose OCI cards had been cancelled, citing non-availability of the figure in a “consolidated form.”

Responding to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by The Hindu, the Ministry said that the information sought remained outside the “mandate and scope of the RTI Act, 2005”.

On November 7, in an unprecedented move, the Ministry announced on Twitter that it would revoke the OCI card of journalist Aatish Taseer over what it claimed was his attempt to “conceal information” that his father, Salman Taseer, was of Pakistani origin.

The Ministry at the time said that Mr. Taseer had failed to dispute a notice that had given him the opportunity to submit his reply/objections regarding his PIO/OCI cards. Asserting that Mr. Taseer had not complied with basic requirements and withheld information, the Ministry ruled that he had become “ineligible to hold an OCI card as per the Citizenship Act, 1955”.

In his reply on September 6 to an August 13 notice, and a subsequent notice dated September 3, Mr. Taseer explained that his parents had never been legally married, and his mother was his sole legal guardian.

Mr. Taseer was criticised by several members of the ruling BJP, as he had authored an essay in May 2019 for Time magazine that accused the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of following divisive policies.

In reply to the RTI application on the number of OCI cards issued from January 1, 2000, to November 26, 2019, the Ministry said: “As per data available, 34,21,337 OCI registration/OCI card have been issued.”

To subsequent questions seeking year-wise data on the number of OCI cards issued or cancelled, the Ministry said: “Information related to year-wise issuance of OCI registration or year-wise cancellation of grant of registration as OCI cardholder is not available in a consolidated form. It may please be noted that the contents of these paras remain outside the mandate and scope of the RTI Act, 2005.”

While responding to another question on major reasons for cancelling the OCI cards, the Ministry replied, “Information sought is not available,” however, it “could be cancelled on grounds mentioned in Section 7(D) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, which is available in the public domain.”

Section 7(D) says the OCI registration may be cancelled if it was obtained by means of fraud, false representation or the concealment of any material fact; or if the overseas citizen of India has shown disaffection towards the Constitution of India, or unlawfully traded or communicated with an enemy (in case of a war) or has been sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than two years within five years after registration as an OCI, or if it is necessary to do so in the interest of the sovereignty and integrity of India.

The OCI scheme provides facilities such as lifelong visa, exemption from registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office and parity with non-resident Indians (NRIs) in economic, financial and educational fields except in matters relating to the acquisition of agricultural properties. No parity is allowed in the sphere of political and public employment rights.

Singapore to be placed on destination wedding map for Indians

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:07.01.2020

Singapore Tourism is looking at attracting more visitors by promoting the island as a destination for weddings, cruises and overseas excursions this year.

G B Srithar, regional director, India, Middle East and South Asia of Singapore Tourism Board said, “We will focus on these elements to encourage more visitors. We used to promote school excursions years ago.” Destination weddings are becoming a thing among Indians, he said, adding, “We want people from Tamil Nadu to hold their weddings in Singapore.”

In a bid to promote educational institutions to take up excursions, Singapore tourism will encourage travel agents to offer incentives, he added. Singapore Tourism Board conducted a roadshow in the city where officials interacted with around 100 travel and tour operators.

“South India is an important region for us with direct flights available from nine cities, including Chennai, Trichy and Coimbatore,” he said.

Cruise tours are a great hit among Indians as they’ve hopped aboard cruises to the island most. “This makes it important for us. Indian cruise travellers are the youngest, with an average age of less that 30 years against the global average of 40. A good number of people who take cruise tours also stay in Singapore.”

Similarly, Indians top the number of tourists who visit Sentosa island, he added. India is number one source market for cruise tours and 1.6 lakh people have gone on cruises to Singapore in 2018.

Till October 2019, 1.19 million tourists from India visited Singapore.

Indians top the number of tourists who visit Sentosa island, he added. India is number one source market for cruise tours and 1.6 lakh people have gone on cruises to Singapore in 2018

அஞ்சல்துறை மூலம் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு பார்சல்: 8 மாதங்களில் 35 சதவீதம் வளர்ச்சி

By DIN | Published on : 06th January 2020 01:21 AM |

 

சென்னை: அஞ்சல்துறை மூலம் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் கடிதங்கள், தபால்கள், பார்சல்கள் எண்ணிக்கை கடந்தாண்டில் (2019) ஏப்ரல் முதல் நவம்பர் வரையிலான 8 மாதங்களில் 35 சதவீதம் வளர்ச்சி அடைந்துள்ளது. ஏற்றுமதி பொருள்களை அஞ்சல்துறை மூலம் அனுப்ப மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி வழங்கியதையடுத்து, இந்தச் சேவைக்கு வரவேற்பு அதிகரித்து வருகிறது.
சமூக மேம்பாட்டில் முக்கிய பங்கு: நாட்டில் சமூக, பொருளாதார மேம்பாட்டில் இந்திய அஞ்சல் துறை முக்கிய பங்கு வகிக்கிறது. மேலும், நாட்டின் தகவல் தொடர்பில் முதுகெலும்பாகத் திகழ்கிறது. அஞ்சல் துறை சார்பில், பல்வேறு சேமிப்புத் திட்டங்கள் செயல்படுத்தப்படுகின்றன. இதுதவிர, தபால்கள், விரைவு தபால்கள், கடிதங்கள், பார்சல்கள் அனுப்புவது உள்பட பல்வேறு சேவைகள் அளிக்கப்படுகின்றன.

இந்நிலையில், தமிழக அஞ்சல்துறை மூலம் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு கடிதங்கள், தபால்கள், பார்சல்கள் அனுப்புவது தற்போது அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. 2019 ஏப்ரல் முதல் நவம்பர் வரை 8 மாதங்களில் 35 சதவீதம் வளர்ச்சி அடைந்துள்ளது. அஞ்சல்துறையில் தனிப்பட்ட, வணிக நோக்கம் இல்லாத தபால்கள் மட்டுமே வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்டு வந்தன. வர்த்தக ரீதியாக பார்சல்கள், தபால்களை அனுப்ப அனுமதி அளிக்கப்படவில்லை.
42 பிரத்யேக மையங்கள்: இதற்கிடையில், வெளிநாட்டு வர்த்தகக் கொள்கையில் மத்திய அரசு கடந்த 2018-ஆம் ஆண்டு ஜூனில் மாற்றம் செய்தது. அதன்படி, வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு வர்த்தக நோக்கத்தில் ஏற்றுமதி செய்யப்படும் பொருள்களை அஞ்சல்துறை மூலமாக அனுப்ப அனுமதி வழங்கப்பட்டது. இதையடுத்து, வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு ஏற்றுமதி செய்யும் பார்சல் சேவையை இந்திய அஞ்சல் துறை தொடங்கியது. தமிழக அஞ்சல்துறை சார்பில், வெளிநாட்டுக்கு பார்சல்களை அனுப்புவதற்காக சென்னையில் தியாகராயநகர், அண்ணாசாலை, மீனம்பாக்கம், அசோக் நகர் உள்பட தமிழகம் முழுவதும் மொத்தம் 42 பிரத்யேக பதிவு மையங்கள் செயல்பட்டு வருகின்றன. இந்த மையங்கள் மூலமாக பார்சல்கள், கடிதங்கள், தபால்கள் ஆகியவற்றை பதிவு செய்து வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு அனுப்பும் பணி மேற்கொள்ளப்படுகிறது.

104 நாடுகளுக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் பார்சல்கள்: தமிழக அஞ்சல்துறை சார்பில், தினசரி 104 நாடுகளுக்கு சராசரியாக 400 முதல் 550 விரைவு தபால்கள், 300 முதல் 500 பார்சல்கள் அனுப்பப்படுகின்றன. வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் மொத்த விரைவு தபால்களில் 50 சதவீதம் அமெரிக்கா, இங்கிலாந்து, கனடா, சிங்கப்பூர், ஐக்கிய அரபு எமிரேட்ஸ் ஆகிய நாடுகளுக்கு மட்டுமே அனுப்பப்படுகின்றன. அதேபோல, வெளிநாடுகளுக்குச் செல்லும் மொத்த பார்சல்களில் சுமார் 75 சதவீதம் பிரான்ஸ், அமெரிக்கா, இங்கிலாந்து, ஆஸ்திரேலியா, ஜெர்மனி ஆகிய நாடுகளுக்கு அனுப்பப்படுகின்றன.
35 சதவீத வளர்ச்சி: அஞ்சல்துறை மூலம் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் கடிதங்கள், தபால்கள், பார்சல்கள் எண்ணிக்கை நிகழாண்டில் (2019-20-ஆம் ஆண்டில் ஏப்ரல் முதல் நவம்பர் வரை) 8 மாதங்களில் 35 சதவீதம் வளர்ச்சி அடைந்துள்ளது. ஏப்ரல் முதல் நவம்பர் வரை 1,32,234 சர்வதேச விரைவு அஞ்சல்கள், பார்சல்கள், கடிதங்கள் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளன. கடந்த 2018-ஆம் ஆண்டு ஏப்ரல் முதல் நவம்பர் வரை 98,621 சர்வதேச விரைவு அஞ்சல்கள், பார்சல்கள், கடிதங்கள் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு அனுப்பப்பட்டன.
ரூ.32 கோடி வருவாய்: வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு பார்சல், கடிதங்கள், தபால்கள் அனுப்பியது மூலமாக, கடந்த ஏப்ரல் முதல் நவம்பர் வரை தமிழக அஞ்சல்துறைக்கு ரூ.32 கோடி வருவாய் கிடைத்துள்ளது. அதேநேரத்தில், 2018-19 -ஆம் நிதியாண்டில் ரூ.25 கோடி வருவாய் கிடைத்தது.

இதுகுறித்து, சென்னையில் உள்ளஅஞ்சல்துறையின் வெளிநாட்டு அஞ்சல் பிரிவு இயக்குநர் வி.சந்தானராமன் கூறியது: இந்திய அஞ்சல்துறை மிகவும் குறைவான கட்டணம் வசூலிப்பதால், வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு அனுப்பப்படும் தபால்கள், பார்சல்கள் எண்ணிக்கை தொடர்ந்து அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. அத்துடன், நமது அஞ்சல் துறை நெட்வொர்க் மிகப்பெரியது என்பதால், வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு பார்சல்கள் எளிதாக சென்று சேருகின்றன.

இதுதவிர, அஞ்சல்துறை மூலம் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு பார்சல்கள் அனுப்பும்போது, சுங்கத்துறை அனுமதியையும் எளிதாகப் பெற முடிகிறது. அதிக அளவு பார்சல்களை அனுப்பும் நிறுவனங்களின் இருப்பிடத்துக்கே சென்று அவற்றை சேகரிக்கும் சேவையும் அஞ்சல் துறை வழங்குகிறது.
வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு பார்சல்களை அனுப்பும்போது, வாடிக்கையாளர்களுக்கு ஏதாவது சந்தேகம் இருந்தால், அதை நிவர்த்தி செய்து தேவையான ஆவணங்களைப் பெற்று அனுப்பி வைக்கப்படுகிறது. மேலும், அஞ்சல்துறை மூலம் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு பார்சல்களை அனுப்பும்போது, சுங்கத்துறை அதிகாரிகளின் வழிகாட்டுதல் முழுமையாக பின்பற்றப்படுகிறது.

அஞ்சல்துறை மூலம் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு பார்சல் அனுப்ப, சம்பந்தப்பட்ட ஏற்றுமதியாளரிடம் இறக்குமதி -ஏற்றுமதி எண் (ஐஇசி கோடு) இருக்க வேண்டும். அத்துடன், ஏற்றுமதிக்கான அஞ்சலக பில்லையும் அவர்கள் விண்ணப்பித்து பெற வேண்டும். வெளிநாட்டு ஏற்றுமதிக்கான பார்சல்களை சர்வதேச அஞ்சல் நிலையங்கள் மூலமாக மட்டுமே அனுப்ப முடியும்.
விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்துதல்: அஞ்சல்துறை மூலம், வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு பார்சல்கள் அனுப்பும் சேவை குறித்து குறு சிறு நடுத்தர தொழில் நிறுவனங்கள், தொழில் முனைவோர்கள், ஏற்றுமதியாளர்கள் ஆகியோருக்கு விழிப்புணர்வு ஏற்படுத்தி வருகிறோம் என்றார் அவர்.

சிறு, குறு, நடுத்தர தொழில் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு (எம்.எஸ்.எம்.இ) நல்ல வாய்ப்பு
தமிழக வட்ட அஞ்சல் துறை முதன்மைத் தலைவர் எம்.சம்பத் கூறியது: அஞ்சல்துறை மூலம் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு பார்சல்கள் அனுப்புவதில் சிறு ஏற்றுமதியாளர்களுக்கு அதிக நன்மை கிடைக்கிறது. அவர்கள் தனியாக வெளிநாட்டுக்கு பார்சல் அனுப்புவதில் அதிக சிரமத்தைச் சந்திப்பார்கள். அதேநேரத்தில், அஞ்சல்துறை மூலமாக தங்கள் பார்சல்களை எளிதாக அனுப்ப முடியும். மேலும், அஞ்சல் துறை மூலம் வெளிநாடுகளுக்கு பார்சல்களை அனுப்ப குறு, சிறு நடுத்தர தொழில் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு (எம்எஸ்எம்இ) இது ஒரு நல்ல வாய்ப்பு ஆகும். இதைப் பயன்படுத்தி பலன் அடையலாம் என்றார் அவர்.

-மு. வேல்சங்கர்

UK’s new visa policy may be a boon for Indian students

The UK government’s new visa policy for international students may be a boon for Indians aspiring to do Master’s followed by employment opportunities in the UK.

Published: 24th September 2019 06:13 AM 

By OMJASVIN M D

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The UK government’s new visa policy for international students may be a boon for Indians aspiring to do Master’s followed by employment opportunities in the UK. On September 11, the UK government announced re-introduction of the two-year post-study work visa for international students. This means, students with TIER 4 visa can pursue any Master’s degree of their choice in the UK for one year and stay back to work there for two years.

The number of Indians visiting UK, declined steeply ever since the post-study work visa was revoked in 2012. This restriction allows students only to stay back for four months. Earlier this year, India too acknowledged the decline in a written response to a question posed in Rajya Sabha. Some reasons cited for the decline were withdrawal of post-study work visa, tightened English proficiency requirements and higher tuition fees.

According to the Higher Education Statistics Agency, from a high of 22,375 Indians in 2012-13, the number decreased to 16,550 in 2016-17. However, from 15,160 students in 2018, the numbers rose by 40 per cent to 21,165 by March this year.

Welcoming the new visa policy, British Council’s Director of South India, Janaka Pushpanathan said the policy gave students the chance to develop their career in an international marketplace and provided them the opportunity to pursue professions at any degree level and in any field of operation. Students mostly preferred business and engineering courses in the UK. However, there was a growing interest in other subjects too. Professionals in the education and recruitment field believe the new visa policy may benefit Indians and double the number of 2012-13 as they now get to work there for longer.

‘’ Students can get a scholarship waiver up to an average of 25 to 30 per cent of their tuition fees depending upon their merit,’’ said Sanofer Sulthana, Branch Manager, SI-UK in Chennai, a global recruiter. To go to the UK for higher studies, students normally have to take the IELTS which assesses their English proficiency skills. The test consists of reading, writing, speaking and listening sections. “Some UK universities also accept 12th standard English marks of students scoring above 70 per cent in India. Such students may not have to take IELTS,’’ said Sanofer.

Meanwhile, career experts in the UK told Express that students could enhance employment opportunities by engaging with universities’ career support. John Sander, Senior International Officer of UK-based Sussex University, one of the leading universities in the world, said, “Often, South Asian students don’t engage with the career support that they have paid for until towards the end of their studies.’’Using careers service from the day students land in the UK would help them maximise the success of their applications, observed Sander. The new graduate immigration route is expected to benefit students enrolling from 2020-21.

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NRIs can apply for Aadhaar without 182-day waiting period

New Delhi:24.09.2019

Non-resident Indians (NRIs) with valid Indian passport can apply for Aadhaar on arrival, without the 182-day waiting period, with the government issuing a notification in this regard.

Following the notification, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has also come out with a circular stating that “NRI after his arrival  in India, shall be entitled to obtain Aadhaar number”.

The modalities for application remain more or less unchanged, a UIDAI source said adding that NRIs with Indian passport can now apply for biometric ID on arrival or by scheduling a prior appointment.

UIDAI circular said valid Indian passport will be accepted as proof of identity, proof of address (PoA) and date of birth document. “In case NRI’s passport does not have Indian address, he shall be allowed to submit any of the other UIDAIapproved PoA documents as proof of address,” said the circular issued on Monday. PTI

NRI from Kerala stabs wife to death in UAE
Incident followed a heated argument

12/09/2019, PRESS TRUST OF INDIA ,DUBAI

An Indian national in the United Arab Emirates allegedly stabbed his wife to death, a media report said. The 43-year-old man, identified as U.C, killed his wife C. Vidhya Chandran, 39, after a heated argument in a car park at Al Quoz here on Monday, Khaleej Times reported. The couple’s daughters, aged 16 and 5, live in Kerala with the victim’s parents.

The woman’s brother Vinayachandran said his sister was supposed to come home for Onam. He said the family came to know about the incident through the victim’s colleague, who told them that “he [the husband] stabbed her in a car park and he is now in police custody. We don’t know what happened exactly.” Mr. Vinayachandran alleged that his sister was in an abusive relationship. “The man has been abusing my sister for long. Last year, she even filed a police complaint against him for domestic abuse. They appeared for counselling and things got a little better,” he said.

“Vidhya’s husband had taken a huge loan, and they were under financial pressure. That is why Vidhya quit her job in Thiruvananthapuram and joined her husband in Dubai,” he said.

Vidhya was working in a private company at Al Quoz.

“We knew she was going through a difficult time. We decided to keep the children with us because of his abuse. But we did not expect that he would kill her,” he said.

Post-study work visa back in the U.K.

12/09/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

From next year, international students in the United Kingdom — including Indians — will be able to stay on after graduation for a period of two years to work or look for work using a new post-study work visa.

Announcing the new graduate immigration route on Wednesday, the British government said the move would help to attract “the best and the brightest” to the U.K. and expand opportunities for international students to build successful careers within the country. Graduates may apply without leaving the U.K.

It could also help to increase the number of Indian students heading to the U.K., which dropped drastically after a similar visa was withdrawn in 2012.