AN Indian family of five that was unable to fly home following a travel ban imposed eight months ago has finally left the country following the intervention of social workers and the embassy.
World Non-Resident Indians Council director for the Middle East Sudheer Thirunilath said Pandia Babu and his wife Lavanya had contacted them in November, seeking help as they had no steady income.
The couple has two children Harish and Nishara. Mr Babu’s brother-in-law Suresh Thiyagarajan was also staying with them.
Harish was autistic and was undergoing therapy while Nishara completed Grade 7 from the Indian School Bahrain.
The family had written a letter to Indian Ambassador Piyush Srivastava claiming that they had lost money in a business, and that the landlord had also filed a case against them for failing to pay rents.
The family was running a restaurant that went bust, and the owner filed a case against them as well.
The couple with their autistic son Harish at the airport
Mr Thirunilath said they followed up the case with the Indian Embassy and arranged a meeting with the employer to lift the travel ban, and allow the family’s adult members to look for jobs and change their visa status.
The case was discussed during the Open House held at the Indian Embassy recently, following which support was extended to the family by different segments of the society.
Mr Thirunilath said while the court lifted the travel ban, the family members could not find a job and struggled to pay for the child’s treatment.
The Migrant Workers Protection Society, Annai Tamil Mandram and Telugu Kala Samiti members also played a key role in helping the family and arranging for their travel.
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