AI scraps discounts on body repatriation
dubai — Indian residents, including mission representatives in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are up in arms after Air India (AI) confirmed that it is scrapping its 50 per cent discount for repatriating bodies from the UAE.
The discount, exclusively provided to Indian residents in the UAE, was cancelled on September 19, according to senior airline officials at its headquarters in the UAE.
Currently, the charges for repatriation vary from airline to airline, and could cost anything between Dh2,500 and Dh3,000. The discount has been a relief for many families — especially those of low income workers.
In another major decision, AI officials told Khaleej Times that it has decided to stop accepting requests from Indian diplomatic missions to provide the service free of cost for needy workers.
Commenting on the issue, Indian Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri, said: “We reassure that for the destitute, the embassy and consulate are there. Ready to take on a larger responsibility and fill the void left by Air India.”
dubai — Indian residents expressed their anguish as the national carrier Air India (AI) scrapped its 50 per cent discount on the cost of repatriation of mortal remains from the UAE.
The discount policy, which was exclusively provided to Indian residents in the UAE, was cancelled on September 19, according to senior AI HQ officials in the UAE. The decision will also apply to national carrier’s budget service Air India Express.
The national carrier has also decided to stop accepting requests from Indian diplomatic missions to provide the service free of cost (FOC) for needy workers. Instead, the bereaved will now have to get the costs of repatriating the mortal remains reimbursed from the Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF), a critical support fund for distressed Indians setup by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India.
The official told Khaleej Times:
“The UAE was the only sector where we provided a 50 per cent discount towards the repatriation of mortal remains. However, to maintain uniformity across all networks, we have decided to do away with the discount.”
Air India insists that the decision was made as per directives from the AI cargo headquarters in India.
The airline’s decision has angered community leaders and social workers who said the move would make the service unaffordable for low-income Indian workers in the UAE. Presently, the service charges vary from airline to airline, and costs anything between Dh2,500 and Dh3,000.
Commenting on the issue, Indian Ambassador to the UAE Navdeep Singh Suri said: “We reassure that for the destitute, the embassy and consulate are there. Ready to take on a larger responsibility and fill the void left by Air India.
“We will take the full responsibility in cases where the family is unable to meet the cost. We will also assist where the sponsor, employer or insurance company fails to bear the expenditure.”
“The embassy remain committed to repatriation of mortal remains to the place of residence in India under the guidelines of ICWF. This year alone the embassy had coordinated with the ICWF to repatriate mortal remains of 49 individuals.”
Reconsider charges
Social workers have requested the airline to reconsider the new charges.
Nasar Kanhangad, a social worker who has helped repatriate bodies from the UAE, said: “We have been petitioning the airline and the government to make repatriation of bodies free of cost. This new decision to hike the charge is shocking.”
Ashraf Thamarasherry, another social worker handling the repatriation of human remains, said: “The cargo charges of repatriating human remains to the Kerala sector was priced at approximately Dh1,800 to Dh2,500, depending on the weight on the remains.
For example, if the weight of the mortal remains of a person is 80 kilos, he will require a box that weighs Dh60, totalling 140 kilos.”
Another Indian social worker Naseer Vatanapally said: “A standard rate must be set. As of now, families must be prepared to shell out anything between Dh3,000 and above for total repatriation costs. It is not possible for people of all classes to pay the same.”