IWRC not just for workers but to help all Indian residents

abu dhabi — The Indian Workers’ Resource Centre (IWRC) started in 2010 as a welfare initiative of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, to handle issues faced by workers.

However, in its eighth year, IWRC is resolving the problems of not just workers but all Indian expats, an official has said. “Unlike its name, IWRC helps any Indian in distress,” Anish Choudhury, the centre manager, said.

IWRC got a battery of legal counsellors — advocates Bindu Chettur, Kushnuma Khan, Balram and Benoy Sasi. Then, there is the financial counsellor Arun Anand and personal counsellor Dr Shailaja Menon, to guide people.

“We have counsellors dealing with the issues of employment, marriage, teenagers, legal, health and more. We know the cultural shock many Indians face when they land here. We at IWRC only want to ensure that no Indian feels alone and help to solve all problems,” Choudhury said.

Expats with issues from visa cancellation, getting back passport from company, unpaid salary, marriage registration, psychological or other health problems, accommodation issues, workers and woman’s rights can approach the centre.

Apart from the Open House sessions and awareness camps, the IWRC has now turned to social media platforms like Facebook, where counsellors do Live sessions and residents’ address issues.

“This helps us to reach to a wider audience. There may be cases where people are shy or apprehensive about visiting a centre or to call up themselves, but they can watch Live or saved videos to find a solution to their problems. The Q&A during the Facebook Live session is mostly on the commonly asked issues to our call centres,” Choudhury added.

In March, the first such Live session was held with legal counsellor Bindu Chetur and on Sunday, it was personal counsellor Dr Sailaja Menon who answered queries.

“It is very challenging to adjust to a new culture. We all got through a lot of issues physiologically,

We all got through a lot of issues physiologically, socially, mentally and emotionally, while adjusting to a new environment. We come from a culture where we get a lot of support from family and then suddenly come to a place where we are alone.”

Dr Shailaja Menon, personal counsellor, IWRC

socially, mentally and emotionally, while adjusting to a new environment. We come from a culture where we get a lot of support from family and then suddenly come to a place where we are alone. We feel quite hopeless, worthless and helpless and all these are symptoms of depression,” Dr Menon said.

She urged people to call or visit counseling centres. “Come to IWRC; people could really benefit from a few sessions.”

Expats in need can call 80046342 for help or to fix appointments. The call centre provides assistance in five languages – Hindi, English, Malayalam, Telugu and Tamil. In February, the centre got 6,764 calls and conducted 309 counselling sessions.

ashwani@khaleejtimes.com