Indian amnesty seekers in UAE get free air tickets

Dubai, Oct 30 (UNI) As many as 180 Indians were given free air tickets by Indian missions in the UAE in a drive to send back the amnesty seekers who are stranded in the gulf nation in need of money to pay for their air fare.

The missions, which continue their work till November 1, are giving tickets to only those workers who are not in a position to buy air tickets to India during the amnesty period.

''We will be distributing free tickets till Thursday at Indian Association Sharjah. All workers are being interviewed before they are given free tickets. Only those workers who have already obtained out-pass to leave the country during the amnesty are eligible for free tickets,'' Gulf Today quoted Indian Ambassador to the UAE Talmiz Ahmad as saying.

He said around 500 workers had approached the missions on the first day.

''Amnesty seekers from other states can approach the Indian consulate in Dubai if they want free tickets. We want to make sure that no one gets stranded in the country due to lack of money to buy air tickets,'' he added.

More than 100,000 Indians have availed themselves of the amnesty declared by the UAE government in the first week of June. The amnesty ends on November 3.

UAE Ministry of Labour had warned illegal workers that they would be imprisoned if they do not leave the country during the amnesty period.

UNI