Dh2.6 million goal to free jailed Indians

DUBAI // An Indian welfare group yesterday pledged to raise Dh2.6 million by the end of the year to pay off the blood money owed by 13 prisoners languishing in Dubai jails. The Indian Community Welfare Committee (ICWC) said it was confident it would reach its target, part of a new fund created for Indian prisoners, all of whom have completed their sentences.

Most of the men are in jail for traffic and work site accidents and classified as "non-criminals". However, they remain behind bars as they are unable to pay Dh200,000 as blood money, or diya, they each owe to families of their victims. Mr K Kumar, the chairman of the ICWC, said: "It's a lot of money but we are confident that we can gather this money. "The Indian community has achieved this before," he said at an update of the organisation's work in its 10 years of operation.

"We are accepting one dirham to a million. It all depends on each person's capabilities. We hope that Indians donate generously," said Mr Kumar. The committee, which is the welfare branch of the Indian Consulate in Dubai, has successfully gained the release of 25 men in the past 10 years. The planned release of 13 men in the next few months is its most ambitious project yet. Earlier this week the Indian Business and Professional Council, Sharjah and the Indian Golfers' Society along with several community groups raised Dh500,000 for welfare activities. About 40 per cent of this money was handed to the ICWC to aid the release of the 13 men.

Mr Kumar said the ICWC was also working to establish a "single window clearance" system for families dealing in death-related formalities. "This would not only help the Indian community but all the other communities when confronted with the unfortunate task of having to deal with death cases," he said. The organisation is affiliated with 76 regional groups in Dubai and its volunteers are involved in several community activities.

Sanjay Verma, the Consul General of India, said that apart from the ICWC, the consulate also operated an Indian Community Workers Fund specifically to deal with labour issues. "Through the workers fund this year we issued 170 flight tickets to labourers who could not pay to return home. Other expenses for stranded workers such as food, shelter and money is also taken care by this," said Mr Verma. More information is available at www.icwcdubai.com.

@Email:pmenon@thenational.ae