Abu Dhabi: Indian diplomatic missions in the UAE will give publicity material on a pension scheme to community organisations for distribution among workers, a top Indian diplomat told Gulf News recently.
This is part of involving community organisations in the promotion of the Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Suraksha Yojana (MPSY), a voluntary pension and life insurance fund introduced by the Government of India for workers, T.P Seetharam, the Indian Ambassador to the UAE, said.
The scheme helps Indian workers holding Emigration Clearance Required (ECR) passports (those who have not passed grade 10) to save money for life insurance during their stay abroad, as well as for their return and rehabilitation, and for a pension with government contribution.
As the organisations are not authorised to collect money from workers, they cannot enrol the workers in the scheme, but they can distribute the awareness material, he said.
This was discussed during the recent visit of a senior Indian Government official to the UAE, the envoy said.
Prem Narain, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs Secretary, reviewed various welfare schemes including the pension scheme during his visit, he said.
A large number of workers enrolled in the scheme this month thanks to intensive awareness campaigns, the envoy said. He said the figures will be announced later.
One more organisation, Alankit Assignments, has been authorised to enrol workers in the scheme. “They have engaged UAE Exchange Centre, which deals with a large number of Indian workers, for this purpose,” Seetharam said.
Indian community organisations in Abu Dhabi said they would be happy to promote the scheme among workers.
“We are waiting for specific information from the embassy; we will extend all cooperation,” M.U. Vasu, president of the Kerala Social Centre, said.
“We have already promoted some welfare schemes of the south Indian State of Kerala among workers; we can adopt the same strategy for this scheme also,” A.K. Beeran Kutty, secretary of Shakthi Theatres, said.
The Government of India secretary interacted with community organisations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi during his visit. In a meeting at the Indian Social and Cultural Centre in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening, the community representatives sought the intervention of the Government of India to solve many issues.
The shortage of seats in Indian schools was the main issue raised by many people, Pushpa Srivastava, the President of Indian Ladies Association, said.
Others raised issues regarding problems with Air India, the Indian national carrier, import duty on gold ornaments, Aadhar card [Indian identity card], etc.
