Streamlining services: Indian consulate steps up

Dubai : Procedural formalities in the case of death or other emergencies are being streamlined by the Indian consulate to make them more prompt and efficient, a top diplomat said.

In his first interview on taking over as the Consul General of India in Dubai, Sanjay Verma said while these emergency services were already in place, they would be "tweaked" to ease the burden of those in distress with clearances for repatriation of bodies and other formalities being attended to on an urgent basis, even on holidays. He said the consulate had fully cleared the backlog where passport services were concerned with the processing time having been expedited.

Verma said his effort would be to continue the excellent relations between the UAE and India, while giving a boost to trade and investment, particularly in areas of infrastructure, health care and alternative forms of energy.

"We would also like to reach out to the invisible part of the Indian population, the workers who are seen only on a Friday afternoon," Verma said, adding that issues like illegal recruitment and non-payment of wages would also be addressed.

Five weeks into the job, Verma, who came from New Delhi where he was Joint Secretary (Energy Security) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said he was "satisfied" with the progress made so far, the consular role being distinct from his earlier postings. He added that the Indian Consulate building would also be refurbished.