UAE: The Karnataka NRI Forum, UAE and its president Praveen Shetty’s efforts to arrange a repatriation flight for stranded Indians from the UAE to Mangaluru have paid off. Union Minister Sadananda Gowda, on May 8, tweeted that the evacuation flight will depart from Dubai on May 12.
Please Note: It was first announced that the flight would depart from Dubai to Mangaluru on May 14. On May 9, the flight was re-scheduled for May 12.
When the Government of India had first announced flights to repatriate stranded citizens from all over the world, the first batch of had no mention of any flights from the Gulf countries to Karnataka.
There are thousands of Kannadigas living and working in the Gulf region, especially in the UAE. A major section of this population comes from coastal Karnataka that belongs to Mangaluru, Udupi and the nearby districts. This lack of consideration for Mangalureans in this time of need came as a blow to the community as many were waiting for flights to return home for urgent medical assistance and other medical support.
Praveen Shetty, immediately after finding out that there were no flights to Mangaluru, wrote a letter to the concerned departments and ministers under the banner of KNRI. Unrelenting, Shetty followed up on his request with Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka Dr. Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Tourism of Karnataka C.T. Ravi, Union Minister Sadananda Gowda, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs (India) Pralhad Joshi, Minister of Railways of India (Minister of State) Suresh Angadi, officials of the aviation ministry and other concerned departments.
The efforts have now borne fruit and the confirmation has finally been obtained from Minister Gowda that repatriation flight from Dubai to Mangaluru from Dubai will be on May 12.
While it is expected that the aviation ministry will officially announce the flight arrangements and other operational information shortly, Minister Gowda announced on Twitter, “Air India has pre-scheduled the Special Evacuation Flight from Dubai to Mangalore on 14/5/2020 to 12/5/2020 after constant persuade.
New Schedule: Flight no – IX 0384
Timing: Dubai – 16:10
Mangalore – 21:10
*All timings local“
Air India has pre-scheduled the Special Evacuation Flight from Dubai to Mangalore on 14/5/2020 to 12/5/2020 after constant persuade.
New Schedule:
Flight no – IX 0384
Timing:
Dubai – 16:10
Mangalore – 21:10*All timings local @airindiain @PIB_India @PIBBengaluru
— Sadananda Gowda (@DVSadanandGowda) May 9, 2020
Speaking to the media, Praveen Shetty said, “Karnataka NRI Forum is always committed to serving Kannadigas and the collective effort of core committee members, ministers of Karnataka and the Government of India, including the aviation and other concerned ministries, made possible the most important and much awaited repatriation flight to Mangaluru from the UAE. I thank each and everyone who joined hands to make this possible.”
Praveen Shetty is a well-known businessman in the UAE and manages the Fortune Group of Hotels here and in Georgia. He has selflessly given his 3-star hotel to the UAE ministry to operate as a quarantine facility for people who are under observation for COVID-19. Also, he joined his hands with the organizations in the UAE to extend their helping hand to the needy people.
With the help of like-minded businessmen and professionals, the KNRI forum, under the leadership of Praveen Shetty, along with ‘Dubai Anivasi Kannadigaru’ started a helpline called “Kannadigas Helpline” through which they received around 3000 requests for food, medical, legal and other assistance. They aided many COVID-infected people with quarantine and isolation with the help of Dubai Health Authority, Ministry of Health, Dubai Police and Consulate General of India under the guidelines of Dubai Govt.
Shetty has expressed his gratitude to the Dubai Health Authority, Ministry of Health, Dubai Police and Consulate General of India for their professional guidance and help to the Kannadigas during the pandemic COVID-19 situation.
