Kerala to coordinate for UAE amnesty programme

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 21 (IANS) Kerala Wednesday stepped up efforts to bring back people from the state illegally staying in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) after authorities in that country announced a two−month amnesty for visa violations.

The authorities will coordinate with the various agencies to see that the maximum number of people make use of the two−month amnesty period announced by the UAE administration, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said.

Speaking to reporters here after the weekly cabinet meeting, Chandy said they will be sending an official from the Non−Resident Keralites Affairs Department to the UAE.

“We will work in tandem with the Indian Embassy in the UAE, the ministry for overseas Indian affairs and Air India to ensure that all our people who make use of the amnesty are brought back here,” said Chandy.

The UAE recently announced that all expatriates residing in its territory whose visas have expired can avail a two−month amnesty that allows them either to regularise their papers or leave the country without paying a penalty.

The amnesty period starts Dec 4 and can be availed till Feb 3, 2013.

According to a latest study done by the Centre for Development Studies here, there are more than a million Keralites who earn a living in the UAE, of which a small number do not have proper and valid papers there.

IANS 2012-11-21 17:28:06