4,000 Indians who overstayed in Oman finally leave

MUSCAT - About 4,000 Indians who overstayed in Oman have left the country after they were given outpasses, the Indian envoy here has said.

Indian Ambassador to Sultanate of Oman Anil Wadhwa told IANS: “We are making all efforts to speed up the process of repatriation of overstayers with the Omani ministry of manpower.”

He said there were about 25,000 Indians who are supposed to leave by May 31, a deadline set for the illegal workers.

“Some 21,000 have already been registered with the embassy which has also finished the process of collecting fingerprints of 15,000 people. This is an important part of the process of the repatriation.”

There are around 600,000 Indians who have been working and residing in Oman for the past three decades or so.

In order to maintain law and order, the OOmani authorities periodicall declare amnesty for the illegal workers to leave the country. But they do their work humanely.

Sathish Nambair, president of the Malayali Association for the past 16 years, said the Omani authorities have been very helpful and friendly towards Indians.

“Part of the credit goes to His Majesty Sultan Qaboos who maintains very cordial relations with India,” said Nambair.

Vasudevan, a doctor speaking from Nizwa, 160 km from here, said: “In Oman we feel a home outside our home. If you feel a bit homesick you can take a flight back to your state for a few days or weeks, recharge your emotional batteries and feel fresh again to do your work or business in Oman.”

(Surender Bhutani can be reached at suren84in@yahoo.com)