Mums in overdrive to bring back kids home
HOPES RISE AS REPATRIATION FLIGHTS RESUME TODAY
When Aswathy Nair’s 18-monthold daughter Vyga Sachin flew home to Kerala with her parents in March, a week before Nair was meant to join them, the Dubai resident had no clue that she will not see her child for months.
“They have entry permits, but there are no flights,” Nair told Gulf News, speaking ahead of the Indian decision to resume the flights.
Repatriation flights between the UAE and India are resuming today for a period of 15 days.
Nair has joined a social media group of Indian mothers who got separated from their children during the pandemic.
The group that uses the hashtag #takemetoMom was formed on July 3 to make their voice heard, according to the group’s administrators Dr Nita Salam and Priya Feroz.
“In 48 hours, we were able to bring together more than 200 mothers from different parts of India. The movement has gone viral. We have written to authorities and are preparing to file a petition for the children’s evacuation in the High Court of Kerala, where most members hail from,” Dr Salam said.
Dr Salam, whose son Azin, 13, is stuck back home, said many are taking up the cause of residents in financial distress, but the emotional trauma of separation are unimaginable.
Psychological impact
“For mothers whose children are stranded in India or for children who are awaiting their mothers to return from India, the psychological impact is deep. Everyone was patiently waiting for the lockdowns to get over,” she said.
Feroz said the UAE’s decision to reunite the families and easing of approval process for entry to the country is commendable. “Children from various countries have travelled back to their families in the UAE. However, we are still waiting endlessly,” she said.
I never had an account on Twitter and created one for the sole purpose of reaching out to the authorities, … to bring back my child.”
Aswathy Nair
| Indian expatriate
Started Twitter account
Some of the desperate mothers have taken to Twitter to draw the attention of the relevant authorities.
“I never had an account on Twitter and created one for the sole purpose of reaching out to the authorities, out of desperation to do everything to bring back my child,” said Nair.
While some mothers are battling the emotional trauma of separation from their small kids, some others are fighting anxiety and concern about the safety of their older children as well.
Bhrigu Malhotra from Abu Dhabi is concerned about the safety of her daughter Kavya Malhotra, an 18-year-old student stranded in Delhi where coronavirus is spreading fast.
“She has been staying with relatives in Delhi. With the rising numbers of positive cases there, each added day becomes a trauma for me. She is trying to stay strong and keeping me in good spirits too. But her patience could soon run out as this is the third time the flight ticket that I booked for her is getting cancelled,” said Malhotra.
Reaching out
“She was supposed to fly to Abu Dhabi on July 17, but flights were suspended. I am a very private person. But in an effort to bring my daughter home, I joined Twitter, Instagram and every other social media and I am tirelessly writing emails, messages, tweets to every possible authority,” she added.