Help is at hand at one of Bahrain’s oldest expatriate clubs with a unique community service launched to support those in need amidst a continuing global pandemic.
The Indian Club Bahrain, catering to the largest expatriate population on the island, has set up a help desk which will offer guidance and support to all Indians in the country on their various concerns, including correcting their residency status.
The desk was set up at the beginning of the month and has been receiving calls seeking support for anti-coronavirus vaccinations, food kits, travel documentations and the repatriation of deceased family members, said the club president Stalin Joseph.
“We are a non-profitable entity that is more than a century old and we represent all Indians on this island and we are glad that we could intervene and support them, especially during the pandemic,” Mr Joseph told the GDN.
“We have been doing it, with the assistance of club members, in the past on an individual basis. There were special projects too, when needed, such as organising chartered flights or distributing food kits to the needy.
“We thought it was time to set up a fully-fledged ongoing support desk rather than limiting it to only those who reach out to us.”
According to Mr Joseph, the desk will provide guidance on the necessary documentation for the repatriation and burial of bodies, psychological and physical support related to Covid-19, awareness drives and assistance in documentation requirements of the Indian Embassy, travel assistance for those who lack documents, aiding Indians with online registration for various schemes, local government and legal assistance.
“We are happy with the recent success of a vaccination drive, initiated by the Indian Embassy and the club, along with other associations. We joined hands to see that thousands got vaccinated,” he said.
“Amidst this, we came across many individuals who shared with us the various difficulties they faced. It came to our notice that there were many facing difficulties related to Covid-19, due to incorrect travel documents, who were unable to travel home.
“Many do not have legal documents and wish to get this situation corrected. Others need a helping hand with food and other amenities as the pandemic has led to many losing their jobs.
Solutions
“We believe that the desk will be a place that they can feel free to approach without the fear of getting arrested or facing penalties.
“The help desk would take up their issues with the concerned authorities in Bahrain and simultaneously with the Indian Embassy to help rectify them and find solutions.
“We will also be referring people to the mission’s legal support in cases that may need it.”
The total number of Indian residents on the island is estimated at around 400,000.
Mr Joseph added that the burial of bodies locally and repatriation were among the top needs of the community, apart from the rising number of digital and online requirements nowadays.
“There are many people who are clueless when it comes to online registration for example, especially with both governments having portals that need to be filled in prior to travelling.
“We also help people with the paperwork needing to be filled in and supplied when someone dies – especially with Covid-19 deaths, formalities are different.
“Language barriers are yet another problem that we have witnessed too. Fortunately we volunteer club members from different Indian states who can help in this.
“Of all these, I would say, our main goal is to help regularise the illegal Indian immigrants in the country.
“Any Indian can reach us with their difficulties and we will help them by taking it to the right authorities, to help resolve their crisis.”
The Indian Club, which started in 1915 currently boasts of almost 1,000 members.
The volunteers of the help desk can be contacted on 39855197 (Sany Paul) 33950760 (Anish Varghese), 33170089 9 (Aji Bhasy) as well as on 17253157.
raji@gdn.com.bh
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