Floods in Jammu and Kashmir

 

            Due to the unprecedented floods in Jammu and Kashmir, a large number of people have died and many have been displaced; property and infrastructure worth crores of Rupees have been damaged.  Our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has appealed to all the citizens of India to donate generously to thePrime Minister’s National Relief Fund.  The full text of the appeal is as under:-

 

“My Fellow Citizens, You are all aware that unprecedented floods have caused havoc in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. A large number of persons have died or have been temporarily displaced. Property and infrastructure worth crores of rupees have been damaged. Our fellow countrymen in Jammu and Kashmir need our help at this critical hour to tide over the calamity and to rebuild their lives.

The Central Government is extending full cooperation to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in the measures for rescue, relief and rehabilitation besides, direct assistance to the affected people. I request all fellow countrymen to stand shoulder to shoulder with our distressed brothers and sisters in Jammu and Kashmir and be part of the national effort to support them in this hour of crisis.

I appeal to all citizens to donate generously to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.”

 

2.         Payment to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund can be made as per following details:-

 

(i)        Payment may be made by cheque/draft/cash in the name of “Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund” and sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, South Block, New Delhi-110011. As per directions on the subject the nationalized banks will not charge any commission on preparation of drafts favouring the PMNRF.

 

(ii)       Online Contributions can be made through the website of Prime Minister’s Office i.e. https://pmnrf.gov.in/payform.php

 

3.         Indian nationals in Kuwait may contribute generously for the distressed flood affected people in Jammu and Kashmir.  The contribution can also be sent to the Embassy by cheque / cash.  All donations made will be acknowledged.   

Indian Embassy welcomes  Jammu and Kashmir Flood Relief Fund

 

 Due to the unprecedented floods in Jammu and Kashmir, a large number of people have died and many have been displaced; property and infrastructure worth crores of Rupees have been damaged.  Our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has appealed to all the citizens of India to donate generously to thePrime Minister’s National Relief Fund.  The full text of the appeal is as under:

“My Fellow Citizens, You are all aware that unprecedented floods have caused havoc in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. A large number of persons have died or have been temporarily displaced. Property and infrastructure worth crores of rupees have been damaged. Our fellow countrymen in Jammu and Kashmir need our help at this critical hour to tide over the calamity and to rebuild their lives.

The Central Government is extending full cooperation to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir in the measures for rescue, relief and rehabilitation besides, direct assistance to the affected people. I request all fellow countrymen to stand shoulder to shoulder with our distressed brothers and sisters in Jammu and Kashmir and be part of the national effort to support them in this hour of crisis.

I appeal to all citizens to donate generously to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund.”

Payment to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund can be made as per following details:-

(i)       Payment may be made by cheque/draft/cash in the name of “Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund” and sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, South Block, New Delhi-110011. As per directions on the subject the nationalized banks will not charge any commission on preparation of drafts favouring the PMNRF.

(ii)      Online Contributions can be made through the website of Prime Minister’s Office i.e.

https://pmnrf.gov.in/payform.php

 

Indian nationals in Kuwait may contribute generously for the distressed flood affected people in Jammu and Kashmir.  The contribution can also be sent to the Embassy by cheque / cash.  All donations made will be acknowledged.  

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HOLIDAY NOTICE

       

        The Embassy of India will remain closed on 7^th September, 2014 Sunday, on account of ONAM.

 

        However, needed/emergency services relating to Consular, Visa and Labour wings would be available to the visiting service seekers.

NINTH SUMMER CULTURAL FESTIVAL

The Embassy is taking part in the 9^th Summer Cultural Festival from 24 August to 4 September 2014 at the Kuwait National Museum (opposite Kuwait National Library on Arabian Gulf Street) being organized under the auspices of Kuwait National Museum and the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) of the State of Kuwait. The participation of the Embassy in the above festival signifies cultural cooperation between the two countries.

 

The Embassy will exhibit photographs showcasing arts and cultural heritage of India at Kuwait National Musuem. The opening ceremony of the exhibition is on 24 August 2014 at 10.00 AM.  There will be a live dance performance by Thrissur Association of Kuwait on the inaugural day as well as daily non-commercial screening of famous Bollywood films (Chennai Express, Agent Vinod, Talash, Ek Tha Tiger and Three idiots) from 25 August 2014 onwards. The timings for screening of the above films would be from 5 P.M to 8 P.M in the evening on all days mentioned above at the auditorium of the Kuwait National Musuem.

 

The timings of the cultural exhibition are from 8.30 A.M. to 12.30 P.M. and again from 4.30 P.M. to 8.30 P.M during the above period.

The entry to the Exhibition as well as Films is free.

   

India Development Foundation

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OPEN HOUSE FOR CONSULAR SERVICES

Celebration of India’s 68^th Independence Day

 

          On the occasion of the Independence Day of India, a Flag Hoisting Ceremony will take place at the Embassy of India premises at Diplomatic Enclave, Arabian Gulf Street on Friday, 15 August 2014, at 0800 hours. 

2.      After the flag hoisting, Ambassador will read out the message of Hon’ble President of India, followed by a short cultural function/singing of patriotic songs. 

3.      All Indian nationals are most cordially invited to attend the function.  Refreshment/tea/juice etc. will be served.

Updated Information About The Death of Indian Nationals Starting from 1/7/2014

Beginning 1 July 2014, the Embassy has been providing, on a daily basis, updated information about the death of Indian nationals in Kuwait on its website.  Details offered are: name of the deceased, date of death, date of intimation of death to the Embassy, date of registration of death in the Embassy, nature/cause of death, mode of disposal of mortal remains (local burial or flight number, destination and date of flight for those repatriated to India).

2.              During July 2014, the Embassy registered 51 deaths of Indian nationals in Kuwait.  Out of these, natural deaths registered were 31, whereas unnatural deaths were 20.  While mortal remains of 44 persons were transported to India, 7 were buried in Kuwait.  The Embassy has been extending all possible help in completion of formalities for early transportation of the mortal remains of Indians to India.  The procedure followed is as follows:

i)                    Intimation of death:  On intimation of death of an Indian national either by the employer or the relatives of the deceased, the Embassy guides the informant on the procedural requirements for: (a) burial of mortal remains in Kuwait, or (b) repatriation of the mortal remains to India, depending on the wishes of the family members.  An authority letter is issued in the favour of the informant for collection of death certificate and police report from the local authorities; 

ii)    Registration of death in the Embassy:  Once the death certificate issued by the local authorities is received by the informant, it has to be endorsed by the Foreign Ministry, translated into English and submitted to the Embassy along with the passport of the deceased.  The Embassy then issues a death certificate.

 

iii)   Burial of mortal remains:  The local authorities allow for burial of mortal remains of Muslims and Non-Muslims in Kuwait.  After receiving written consent of the family members of the deceased, the Embassy issues an authority letter to be submitted to the local authorities.  For the burials of seven Indian nationals done during July 2014, the average time taken from intimation of death and burial was two days.

 

iv)   Transportation of mortal remains to India:  The family members or the employer approaches the airline for issue of an airway bill for transportation of mortal remains to India.  On the day of transportation, the mortal remains are sealed in a wooden coffin in Sabah Hospital in the presence of a medical officer, representative of the Embassy and relatives and friends of the deceased.  The coffin is then transported to India.  For the transportation of mortal remains of 44 Indian nationals to India during July 2014, the average time taken from intimation of death and transportation of the coffin to India was four days.  There was one case of destitute Indian national, whose mortal remains were transported to India by the Embassy from ICWF. 

 

v)    Natural Deaths:  The number of natural deaths registered with the Embassy during July 2014 was 31.  The average time taken from intimation of death and transportation of the coffin to India was three days.

vi)   Unnatural Deaths:  The number of unnatural deaths registered with the Embassy during July 2014 was 20.  The average time taken from intimation of death and transportation of the coffin to India was four days.

 

3.              Nodal persons dealing with the death cases in the Embassy are:

a)    Mr. Deepak Seth, Local staff, Mobile No. 66565703; and

b)    Mr. Shakeel Ahmed, Local staff, Mobile No. 99793382

Indian Language Skills in Embassy of India, Kuwait (other than Hindi / English)

To assist the distressed Indian nationals in Kuwait, the Embassy has drawn up a list of officials who can be accessed for help in different Indian languages besides Hindi and English. The list of such officials with their contact details is placed below. Members of Indian community are requested to make use of this initiative of the Embassy since one Kannada knowing official has recently been hired to work in the Community Welfare Section. Indian Language Skills in Embassy of India. Kuwait (other than Hindi/English) i)         Malayalam S.No. Name Designation Telephone No. 1 Shri Balram Kumar Upadhyay Counsellor (Coordination) 22533125 Mob:97224029 2 Smt. Sunila Krishnan Attache (Labour – II) 22530409 Mob: 97264247 3 Smt. Dhanya Nair Local Clerk Mob: 65689503 4 Shri M. Sudheendran Local Clerk Mob: 99183576 5 Shri Mujib Kollorath Local Clerk Mob: 97610246 6 Shri Justin James Local Clerk Mob: 94476852   ii)        Telugu S.No. Name Designation Telephone No. 1 Smt. Thriveni Reddy Local Clerk Mob: 97108538 2 Smt. Deena Ratnam Local Clerk Mob: 66560773 3 Shri K.S.S. Naidu Local Clerk Mob: 66442433 iii)       Tamil S.No. Name Designation Telephone No. 1 Smt. Sunila Krishnan Attache ( Labour – II) 22530409 Mob: 97264247 2 Shri Sajan Varghese Local Clerk 22550725 Mob: 99896053 iv)       Bengali / Assamese / Oriya S.No. Name Designation Telephone No. 1 Shri Shubashis Goldar Deputy Chief of Mission 22510891 Mob: 97229942 2 Shri Kalidas Roy Attache (Passport) Mob: 97295728 v)        Kannada S.No. Name Designation Telephone No. 1. Ms. Sarita Shetty Local clerk Mob. 97983059

 

Grant of Indian citizenship to a foreign national married to an Indian national

Some Indians have enquired about the grant of Indian citizenship to a foreign national married to an Indian national. A foreign national married to an Indian national is eligible for the following:

1.  Person of Indian Origin(PIO CARD):

Any person who is spouse of a citizen of India or a Person of Indian Originas mentioned below:

i.                    who at any time held an Indian Passport; or 

ii.           he/she or either of his/her parents or grandparents or great grandparents was born in an permanently resident in India as defined in the Government of India Act, 1935 and other territories that became part of India thereafter provided neither was at any time a citizen of any country as may be specified by Central Government from time to time.

is entitled for a PIO Card. The card allows visa free travel to India and gives several benefits to the card holder. A PIO Card is valid for 15 years. The scheme is broad-based, covers up to four generations and also the foreign spouse of a citizen of India or a PIO.

2.  Indian Citizenship by Registration (Section 5(1)(C))

Indian Citizenship by registration can be acquired under Section 5(1)(C) by a person, who is married to a citizen of India and who are ordinarily resident in India for seven years before making application.

• In computing the period of seven years, any broken period of residence shall be included in the period specified therein.

3.  Indian Citizenship by Registration (Section 5(1)(d))

Minor children of a person who is Indian citizen can register for Indian Citizenship under section 5(1)(d).

• Application for registration of birth of his minor child born outside India to a person who is citizen of India has to be submitted at the Embassy within one year of the birth, for which parents have to submit a declaration that the child does not hold passport of another country. In cases where the request for registration of birth of the child is made after expiry of one year of the birth of the child, approval from Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi is required and applicant has to apply online for registration of the birth of the child. Online application can be made at the following link:

https://indiancitizenshiponline.nic.in/ic_form_public.aspx

4.  Indian Citizenship by Registration for persons of full age:

A Person of full age and capacity who, or either of his/her parents was earlier citizen of Independent India, and residing in India for one year immediately before making application for registration.

• A Person of full age and capacity who has been registered as an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) for five years and who has been residing in India for one year before making application for application of registration.

Clarification: A person shall be deemed to be a Person of Indian origin if he, or either of his parents, was born in undivided India or in such other territory which became part of India after the 15th August, 1947.

Opening of outsourcing centers for Indian passport and visa services on 3 August 2014.

 

The current service provider of the Embassy of India for outsourcing of passport and visa services M/s BLS International Services Ltd. will be close its operations from 2 August 2014 (Saturday).  The new service provider M/s Cox and Kings Global Services in partnership with its local partner M/s Al Qabas Assurex General Trading and Contracting Company W.L.L. will take over the operations from Sunday, 3 August 2014.

 

2.       Following are the locations from which M/s Cox and Kings Global Services will operate from:

(i)           Behbahani Tower, 17^th Floor, Sharq, Kuwait for passport and visa services.

(ii)          2^nd Floor, Jleeb Al Shuyoukh Block 1, Street 1, Xcite building, Kuwait for passport services.

(iii)        Complex Kais Alghanim, 4^th Floor, Mecca Street in front of Al Anood Complex, Fahaheel, Kuwait for passport and visa services.

 

3.       The new outsourcing centers shall be open on all days, except when specified by the Embassy of India, Kuwait.  On working days (Sunday to Thursday), the operating hours would be from 0800hrs to 1200hrs in first half and 1600hrs to 2000hrs in second half.  On weekend (Friday and Saturday) the operating hours would be from 1600hrs to 2000hrs only.

 

4.       It is anticipated that the transition of passport and visa services from M/s BLS International Services Ltd. to M/s Cox and Kings Global Services in partnership with its local partner M/s Al Qabas Assurex General Trading and Contracting Company W.L.L. will be smooth and without any disruption of services.  All passports and visas applied for with M/s BLS International Services Ltd. during end of July and before 2 August 2014, may be collected from the Embassy, if not obtained at M/s BLS International Services Ltd..  However, in the event of any delay in opening of the new centers beyond 3 August 2014 by M/s Cox and Kings Global Services in partnership with its local partner M/s Al Qabas Assurex General Trading and Contracting Company W.L.L., the passport and visa services shall be provided by the Embassy of India, Kuwait at its premises at Diplomatic Enclave, Arabian Gulf Street, 13015, Safat, Kuwait until such time that the new service provider is able to take up the outsourcing services on its own.

INDIA PERSPECTIVES

 

India Perspectives, a magazine published by the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi once in two months, provides to the readers a rich collection of articles pertaining to current events, art and culture, besides an update of India’s relations with its neighbours and beyond. It also covers famous places of scenic beauty in India. The e-magazine available in 14 languages in digital format, can also be read on the Web as well as mobile devices to those interested readers of the above magazine through the following link: www.indiaperspectives.in/magzter.   

Growing economic and commercial ties between India and Kuwait

 

            India and Kuwait enjoy historically close, warm and friendly ties.  The visit of H.H. Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Prime Minister of Kuwait to India in November 2013 has imparted a new thrust to the growing India-Kuwait relationship.  The bilateral trade turnover has crossed US$ 18 billion mark during the last financial year (April 2013 - March 14).  Kuwait is India’s leading supplier of crude oil and LPG.  Both countries have longstanding ties in the arena of energy security. 

2.         The current year is witnessing award of several big contracts in Kuwait to Indian companies.  Shapoorji Pallonji, Mumbai has signed a contract in April 2014 with the Ministry of Public Works for the Al-Sabah Hospital Project worth US$ 640 million and its execution would start soon. This company is also L1 as per the Central Tenders Committee (CTC) for one of the Kuwait University Projects which is worth US$ 525 million. 

3.         Kuwait Petroleum Company (KPC) has confirmed that one of the Gas Gathering Centres EPC project worth US$840 million is being awarded to Larsen & Toubro, Mumbai while another Gas Gathering Centre worth US$ 810 million would be awarded to Dodsal.  L&T, Mumbai is also L1 for a feed pipeline project worth US$ 1 billion of Kuwait Oil Company (KOC). Punj Lloyd, New Delhi  has bagged US$ 236 million KNPC’s project of revamping the Ahamadi Fuel Depot which includes design, detailed EPC and commissioning of 11 new floating roof product tanks with a capacity of about 228,000 cubic meters. Simplex Project Ltd, Kolkata has secured a subcontract worth US$ 84 million with Combined Group of Companies of Kuwait under which the Indian company would construct some service centres in Sabah Al-Ahmad City. The Energy Resource Institute (TERI), New Delhi  is already doing a pilot project worth US$ 39 million in the field of soil remediation with Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).             

4.         As regards foreign direct investment (FDI) from Kuwait to India, Kuwait investment Authority (KIA), which manages the sovereign wealth funds of Kuwait, has already made an investment of about US$ 2.7 billion in India.  KIA has further invested US$ 5.37 million in the Power Grid Corporation of India in December 2013.  Some Indian private companies such as GMR and Kotak Mahindra are in touch with KIA for attracting investments into India. 

5.         The relationship between India and Kuwait is on an upward growth trajectory.  The Government of India is keen to further strengthen and widen this special relationship with the State of Kuwait, in the coming months.       

Non-Resident Keralites

 

The Government of Kerala has provided contact numbers of key persons in Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs (NORKA) Department to assist our community in Kuwait.

Sl No	Name	Designation	Contact number	Fax Number	Mail ID
1.	Shri K.C. Joseph	Minister, NORKA	Ph.0471-2333176 Mob.9495106600	0471-2320600	ministerkcjoseph@gmail.com
2.	Smt. Rani George	Secretary, NORKA Department	Ph.0471-2518002/2339182 Mob.9447753565	0471-2327270	sec.norka@kerala.gov.in
3.	Shri R.S. Kannan	Addl. Sec. NORKA Department	Ph.0471-2518129 Mob.9495569036	0471-2327192	addlsec.norka@kerala.gov.in
4.	Shri P. Sudeep	Chief Executive Officer, NORKA Roots	Ph.0471-2330530/2770501 Mob.9447009907	0471-2326263	ceonorkaroots@gmail.com

 

Transportation of Mortal Remains of our Nationals to India

 

During the current calendar year from 1 January - 30 June, 2014, the Embassy has registered 258 deaths of Indian nationals in Kuwait. Out of this, 203 Indian nationals died due to natural cause (such as heart attack, sickness, age etc.) and 55 unnatural deaths (16 road accident, 13 work-site accident, 10 suicide, 6 murder, 3 gas inhale, 3 drowning, 2 fire accident, 1 fall from height & 1 unknown reason).  The mortal remains of 62 deceased Indian nationals were buried in Kuwait as per the wishes of their family members, whereas, the mortal remains of 196 Indian nationals were sent to India by air. The Embassy’s efforts are to help in early transport of the mortal remains to India. The procedure followed and time taken is as under: 

 

i)         Intimation of death: When an Indian national dies in Kuwait, the Embassy receives the information about the death from the employer/relatives of the deceased.  Accordingly, the Embassy issues an authority letter in favour of the informer/relative, for collection of death certificate, police report from the local authorities. 

ii)        Registration of death: Once death certificate is collected, it has to be endorsed by the local Foreign Office, translated into English and submitted in the Embassy along with the passport of the deceased for registration of death. The Embassy issues death certificate.

iii)      Burial of mortal remains: The cremation of mortal remains is not allowed in Kuwait.  The local authorities, however, allow permission for burial of mortal remains of Muslims/Non-Muslims in Kuwait. The family members who wish to bury the mortal remains of the deceased are generally advised by the local authority(s) to obtain an authority letter from the Embassy for the burial of the mortal remains in Kuwait.  The Embassy issues an authority letter after receiving the written consent of the family members for burial of the mortal remains in Kuwait. 

iv)      Transportation of mortal remains: After the registration of death, if mortal remains have to be transported to India, the relatives/employer is required to approach the airlines for issue of airway bill for transport of the mortal remains to India. The procedure is simple and not long drawn.  The mortal remains of the deceased are sealed in a wooden coffin in the Sabah Hospital only (as per the specifications of the Ministry of Health of the State of Kuwait) in the presence of a medical officer, representative of the Embassy and relatives / friends of the deceased.  Thereafter, mortal remains are sent to India by air.

v)        Time taken: The time taken for transporting mortal remains depend upon the nature of death and time taken in completing various formalities by Kuwait authorities and the availability of flights to the destination.

a.    In case of natural death(such as heart attack, sickness, age etc.), the mortal remains are sent to India generally within two to ten days depending on the time taken by the Kuwait authorities for completing various formalities and availability of flights. 

b.    In case of unnatural death(such as suicide, drowning, fire, traumatic injury, inhalation of gas, fall from height, work place, criminal activities etc.), the local authorities take considerable time for completion of their investigation into the case and give clearance for transportation of the mortal remains.  In such cases, it generally takes two to four weeks for transportation of the mortal remains from the date of intimation of the death. As disposal of mortal remains other than burial is not allowed in Kuwait, in majority of cases, the mortal remains are transported to India. In cases of destitute Indian nationals, the Embassy arranges the airlifting of the mortal remains of the deceased to India by Air India (or other airlines) and the expenditure is met from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF).

vi)      Embassy Support: The Embassy guides informants/company on procedural requirements for the repatriation of the mortal remains. During the first half of 2014, the Embassy paid for air transport of the mortal remains of 16 deceased Indian nationals from Kuwait to India, while mortal remains of 180 deceased Indian nationals were sent to India by air by the employers/relatives of the deceased. The Embassy provides air tickets to destitute Indian nationals to return to their homeland, as well as pay for air transportation of mortal remains of destitute Indian nationals to India.

vii)     The details of the deceased Indian nationals, whose mortal remains were airlifted to India, with air transportation provided by the Embassy, are provided for information of Indian community in Kuwait, for the period 1 January - 30 June, 2014.

 

S.No.	Name of the deceased	Name of the petitioner / associations who approached for free transportation of the mortal remains	Whether or not the deceased Indian national was working with sponsor	Cost incurred on transportation of the mortal remains	Airlines/City
1.	Ms. Nagamani Yalla	Ms. Kancharla Emeliyamma	Not working with sponsor	KD. 97/-	AirIndia / Hyderabad
2.	Mr. Jaspal Singh	Unclaimed body	Not working with sponsor	KD. 265/-	Qatar / Amritsar
3.	Ms. Narasamma Jonnala	Mr. Jayasankara Budda	Working with sponsor	KD. 92/-	AirIndia / Chennai
4	Mr. Shaik Haneef	Mr. Shaik Raheem Basha	Working with sponsor	KD. 92/-	AirIndia / Chennai
5.	Mr.Muraleedharan Pillai	Mr. M.Krishna Pillai Balagopal	Not working with sponsor	KD. 275/-	Jet / Trivandrum
6	Ms. Rahamath Bee Shaik	Unclaimed body	Not working with sponsor	KD. 92/-	AirIndia / Chennai
7	Mr. Chinna Narasimhulu Lagimi	Mrs. Lagimi Sarjamma	Working with sponsor	KD. 92/-	AirIndia / Chennai
8.	Mr. Durai Anthony	Mr. John Xavier	Not working with sponsor	KD. 310/-	Sri Lankan /Trichy
9	Ms. Ramanamma Akki	Mr. Mani Kurumutla Narasayah	Not working with sponsor	KD. 92/-	AirIndia / Chennai
10	Mr. Mahe Ravat	Unclaimed body	Not working with sponsor	KD. 275/-	Oman /Lucknow
11	Mr. Vetrivel Karuppaiah	Frontliners Association Mr. K.V. Mathi	Not working with sponsor	KD. 310/-	Srilankan /Trichy
12.	Mr.Pradeepan Chaudrambatyh	Mr. Sumod Perinkotra	Not working with sponsor	KD. 92/-	AirIndia /Calicut
13	Mr.Biju Sekhar	Mr. Poulose Rajan Francis	Not working with sponsor	KD. 275/-	Jet / Trivandrum
14.	Ms. Sujatha Matta	Mr. Ranga Rao Billadi	Working with sponsor	-	AirIndia / Hyderabad
15.	Ms. Palagolla Narasamma	Abhaya NRI Foundation Mr. Girish Lal Parsi	Not working with sponsor	KD. 92/-	AirIndia / Chennai
16	Mr. Nageshwara Rao Ponna	Abhaya NRI Foundation Mr. Girish Lal Parsi	Not working with sponsor	KD.92/-	AirIndia / Hyderabad

 

2.       For any further information or assistance in the matter, please contact on 24x7 basis to the following officers in the Embassy;

i)     Mr B K Upadhyay, Counsellor

Tel: 22530600 Extn 203,   Mob: 97224029

ii)    Mr M K Xaxa, Attache, Welfare

Tel: 22530600 Extn 277,   Mob: 97291468

 

iii)  Mr Deepak Seth, Local staff

Tel : 22530600 Extn 271,   Mob: 66565703

 

3.       Your suggestion in the matter may please be sent to the Ambassador of India, Kuwait at amb.kuwait@indembkwt.org, ambss@indembkwt.org,

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Travel Advisory for Indian Nationals in Iraq​

 

The security situation in Iraq continues to be fragile. A travel advisory had been issued on 15 June 2014 for Indian nationals in Iraq.

Due to the uncertain and difficult security environment, Indian nationals in Iraq are again advised to remain indoors if they are in conflict-prone areas and to leave the country on voluntary basis by commercial means, in areas where it is safe to do so. Indian nationals are advised to refrain from undertaking travel to Iraq until further notice. Airports in the cities of Erbil, Baghdad, Basra and Najaf are reported to be operational at present.

Indian nationals in Iraq who need assistance in this regard may wish to contact the Indian Embassy in Baghdad on the 24 hour helpline as per the contact details indicated in the previous travel advisory of 15 June, 2014.

Tel. No. +964 770 444 4899 (Mobile)

Tel No. +964 770 484 3247 (Mobile)

Email: amb.baghdad@mea.gov.in

hoc.baghdad@mea.gov.in
cons.baghdad@mea.gov.in
edubaghdad@yahoo.com
Website: www.indianembassybaghdad.in

 

The Indian Embassy in Baghdad will shortly open camp offices in Najaf, Karbala and Basra for the convenience of Indian nationals in Iraq. Details will be intimated once these offices are set up.

Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) 2015

 

The Government of India has decided to hold the next Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD-2015) at Mahatma Mandir, Gandhinagar, Gujarat in January 2015.

The effort would be to have more meaningful and interactive sessions that would address the issues and concerns of the overseas Indian community effectively. Since 2015 marks the hundredth anniversary of the return of the greatest “PRAVASI” of all, Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa, it is desired that PBD-2015 would be celebrated in a grand way.

The detailed programme of PBD-2015 is being prepared and will be uploaded on the Embassy’s Website in due course.

More detailed information on Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD-2015) can be accessed at the Ministry of Overseas India Affairs’ website (https://www.moia.gov.in).