Indian Embassy responded to a subject discussed on IIK Forum

With reference to the issue published in IndiansinKuwait.com regarding the bad response from the officials of Embassy of India. The following facts are brought to the notice by the Embassy in a letter to IIK:

Mr. Nazir and Mr Sadiq representatives of Mr. Shafiq Mohammed Kunju who was hospitalized in Farwaniya Hospital, came to the Embassy on 03.09.2014 and informed that the victim met with a traffic accident on 28.08.2014 and got his ankle fractured. They further informed that they were apprehensive that the other party might dilute the case and compensation might not be paid as some advocate had visited him and asked for patient’s civil ID card. Based on their verbal request, visit to the hospital by Embassy official was made the very next day i.e. 04.09.2014 to ascertain the fact. It was learnt that probably Mr Shafiq signed some papers brought by an Arabic person but he was not clear of the type of paper being signed. He was advised by the visiting official to inform us in case any paper comes to him. Hospital authorities confirmed that the injuries were not serious and would be discharged soon. The patient was stable and he was also asked to inform us if any other help from the Embassy is sought.
Embassy did not get any information later on. However, on 10.09.2014, Sadiq along with another person (probably Ashraf) visited Embassy and submitted a written request for ticket for Sh Shafik Mohamed Kunju as wheelchair patient with an attendant (Sh Mustafa Sadik Vadakathil) and informed Embassy officials that the hospital is pressing for discharge. They were informed of the formalities like:-

• Medical report: to ascertain the authenticity of the patient condition,
• Need of attendant: why a normal patient need attendant has to be answered. Hospital has to certify that.
• Details of sponsor: It is sponsors duty to take care of the worker when he is in trouble. Embassy contacts such sponsor and make all effort to make him pay the tickets. In majority of cases sponsors do give tickets.
• Which airport they would like to travel: As we have to call for quotation from airlines and go for the lowest as per government rules and regulations.

All the formalities are required as per government guidelines and it being public money, procedure need to be followed as per audit requirements. As per government procedure, once we arrange ticket the amount is directly given to the Airlines, not to the person travelling. Further we must ascertain that he is destitute or not. Moreover, it takes time to process the papers and take approval for incurring the expense. So when we asked them to give Embassy time to process these things, the other man got angry and said “are we not Indians and why don’t you help us”. They were told to wait for at least one day and we would process and give the ticket to patient only, to which they were not ready.

After this they disclosed the fact that they had already purchased the tickets and the flight is scheduled in the evening the same day (10.09.2014). It is pertinent to mention that during initial interaction, they did not mention that the patient has already been discharged and they had already booked tickets. In petition also, it was not mentioned. They tried to hide the fact knowingly. They were then told that why they had misinformed the Embassy by not disclosing the true fact. At that point, instead of paying heed to the real procedure or accepting their fault, they started shouting complaining against Embassy. In the whole course of discussion, Mr Sadiq, actual representative the patient cooperated fully and understood the fact, while another volunteer (probably Ashraf S., name did not disclose then) kept on shouting. They wanted the cash against the purchase of the air tickets for patient and his attendant.

Even after the incident, our consular official contacted actual representative of the patient Sadir over his mobile regarding formalities they had to complete for insurance claim including medical documents etc. He was also advised to invariably take medical discharge certificate/ fitness certificate at the time of boarding flight. Once patient has left Kuwait, the procedure of getting insurance claim might be difficult.

Embassy has been making all effort to facilitate fellow Indians in the time of their distress. But there is procedure and eligibility for all these things.