UNCC to compensate 290 Goan families

Panaji, Sep 8 (UNI) More than 200 Goans families in Kuwait, affected during the Kuwait war in 1990 will be given compensation ranging from Rs two to fifty lakh, by the United Nations Compensation Commission( UNCC ), informed Commissioner for NRI Affairs, Mr Edwardo Faleiro here today.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Faleiro said UNCC had approved names of 290 Goans entitled for the compensation but it could not be paid as their present addresses were not known.

After advertising the name of the beneficiaries and their passport details in the newspapers, 52 persons submitted their claim. As not satisfied with the response, the NRI Commission identified additional 130 beneficiaries with the help of the Goa Police.

''Though last date for submitting claims for payment of this compensation was August 20, on our request, the Union External Affairs Ministry has extended the deadline to September 30,'' added Faleiro.

Mr Faleiro also said to build a date base of All NRGs and PGOs, he had written to all Indian Ambassadors and High Commissioners requesting them to inform about Goans and people of Goan origin residing in the countries which they accredited.

''We received substantial information not just about Goans in the better known countries of emigration but also of Goans in lesser known destinations such as Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt in Africa, Kazakhstan, Vietnam and Syria in Asia, Finland and Hungary in Europe, Argentina and Colombia in Latin America and Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean. After obtaining sufficient data, we intend to invite representatives of the entire Goan diaspora to the next Overseas Goan convention to be held here early next January, Mr Faleiro added.

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