REDIO TO HELP INDIANS IN DISTRESS ABROAD!

If one may recall PM Narendra Modi’s famous quote about Indians abroad, ‘Not a single Indian will be left behind’, this is probably what explains the statement better. ‘REDIO’ or Rescuing Every Distressed Indian Overseas, is an initiative all set to be formally launched at the hands of Shri V. Muraleedharan,  Minister of State for External Affairs (MoS, MEA) on February 20th 2022, 8 pm IST, New Delhi, India.

Indiainput.com spoke to Dr. Dnyaneshwar Mulay, retired IFS (1983 batch), the founder of REDIO. A former High Commissioner of India to Maldives, former secretary, MEA  and presently member, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on the concept behind the initiative.

He said, ‘Even as I am speaking with you, there is a problem related to an Indian national to be solved and we are on it. In reference to the famous quote by our PM Modiji, I would say, REDIO is an initiative in that direction seeking to ensure,  that no Indian national is deprived of any services that he or she is entitled for.’

Dr. Mulay says, ‘We have 31 million overseas Indians. At any given point of time, some of them may face difficulties of various kinds. There may be issues related to immigration, medical problems, accidents, marital discord or cheating and fraud. Not all of them have contact numbers or contact details of people that can help or the Indian embassies. There have been incidents when Indian citizens abroad with Indian passports were left feeling alone, helpless, stranded, cheated, distressed and unable to find help. Maybe a youth, cheated by a recruiter, a wife left stranded by husband, or an employee left jobless all of a sudden. One can never forget it if he or she or someone dear has gone through this. Implications of such a traumatic turn of events can be very serious.’

He adds further, ‘At any given point of time, we have about two and a half lakh seafarers with Indian passports. There are about

nine million Indian workers in the gulf. Recently, three Indian nationals were found distressed upon arrival at the UAE airport. They were cheated and abandoned by their recruiter. Our REDIO initiative is already effective since two years. So, our advisors reached to the distressed people, also got in touch with the consulate, arranged for RTPCR tests of those distressed Indian nationals,  their taxi travel and  arrangements to stay. Their return was facilitated within two to three days. Earlier, victims of similar situations had to face more traumatic experience and their return back to India took a longer time. Similarly,  people have been brought back from other countries. Sea farers from India have been brought back from Iran. Also an unvaccinated couple from India was recently counselled and have been administered first jab in Canada. They will be reunited with their family as they take their second dose and return back.’

Shri Amit Waikar, REDIO Advisor- Thailand and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee 2019, sharing his experience during his over a decade long stay in China and now in Thailand, says, ‘There was a lady tourist from India who had a massive heart attack while in China and unfortunately, lost her life. The tour operator was a first timer and a lady.  She was clueless and naturally  felt  quite distressed. She had no contact with the Indian embassy or consulate. But, fortunately I came to know and within half an hour, for local Indians were by her side. We helped her in getting the local Police clearance, and established her contact with the embassy. Her son was contacted in India. Since, he expressed his inability to have the body back in India and wished that she be cremated in China, the last rites were performed. So, you see, there are multifold challenges during such situations. There usually are multiple issues to be addressed. The persons involved are helpless, do not have access to the concerned person who may help and solve the issues. Either he has no information or no means or resources to reach those who can help.’

Dr Dnyaneshwar Mulay points out that, ‘We have Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) set up to assist Overseas Indian nationals in times of distress and emergency. Our Prime Minister Shri Modi ji wanted to make ICWF more broad based, expand the scope of welfare measures and also go beyond all these to put in an enhanced system to urgently help Indian nationals abroad who look for help. Accordingly, ICWF guidelines were revised in 2017. The idea was also to include our civil society abroad. This could be done by getting on board the Indian nationals in social work & community service, who can step forward to help, also with resources and networking.

And for the last two years, the civil society initiative is in place in form of REDIO and already been successfully tested on the ground.  Today, we have twenty advisors in as many different countries as Japan, USA, UK, Canada, Kenya etc. Five more advisors in five different countries are scheduled to be added up soon.  Thus, it forms an umbrella organization to complement the existing system and can counsel the Indian nationals in distress, as also coordinate not just with our embassies but also with the local government, as also the Central & state governments back home in India. This network will grow further. We plan to take it to hundred countries in next two years. A team of dedicated REDIO members to offer selfless service to connect the necessary dots to help the Indian nationals in distress.’

‘There was no difficulty in choosing the advisors for the initiative,’ says Dr Mulay, ‘Commitment to humanity and service, compassion, willingness and potential to help fellow Indian nationals – were some of the qualities foremost in our minds.’

He explains, ‘The aim of the civil society initiative is to address the problem. We wish to see the problem sorted out and to eventually make the concerned Indian national feel happy again. We want to see him or her live responsibly again, as an Indian citizen.’

Elaborating further on the role of advisors in REDIO, Amit Waikar says, ‘The advisors are expected to have the ability to rally  behind the distressed and expected to be very well established in that country in positive work and service. Since its all about selfless service to the motherland and fellow Indian nationals, there are no consultancy charges involved. REDIO will have its contact details, website and also be having a wide social media presence across all platforms. It is something that is the need of the hour and will forever help transform the lives of Indian nationals on foreign soil.’

News reports during the last seven years have told about Indians when in distress on foreign soil, taking to social media or tweeting to the Government of India, the MEA and getting relief. The initiative REDIO seems to have already arrived on the scene and replaced  the social media, as the saviour.