Mobile app launched to help Indians in distress

Imran Mojib, Special Correspondent

Indian Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs V. Muraleedharan launched the PBSK mobile app in Dubai on Thursday. The app, developed by the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK), will help distressed Indian expatriates in the UAE to reach the PBSK for help.

The minister, who was on a three-day visit to the UAE, launched the app during a community interaction session held at the Indian Consulate in Dubai on Thursday.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra (PBSK), earlier known as Indian Workers’ Resource Centre (IWRC), is a welfare initiative of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs to handle issues faced by Indian workers in the UAE. The PBSK runs a 24x7 toll free helpline, 800-INDIA or 80046342, and a 365-day walk-in centre located in the Consulate premises in Dubai.

Using the PBSK mobile app, NRIs in the UAE can also connect with the Indian Embassy and Consulate in a better way and register their grievances, send queries, interact live with them or get an appointment with a legal, psychological or financial counsellor.

During the meeting, Muraleedharan commended the missions for setting up the first ever upskilling and training centre for Indian blue-collar workers in Dubai. On Wednesday, the minister had inaugurated the classes for Basic Arabic language, English Language, and Computer skills in the premises of Delhi Private School, Dubai. 

He also interacted with the workers, and expressed his happiness to see the interest of the workers, especially female workers to enhance their skills and increase their employability in the host country.

He stressed that the Indian missions will have more upskilling and training centres in the coming days to help common workers earn a better living.

He urged the community members to extend a helping hand in making the projects successful by spreading the message to every Indian citizen who is working in the UAE.

Earlier, during a community meeting in Abu Dhabi, the minister listened to the concerns raised by the community members and assured them of all help from the Embassy.

The minister also acknowledged the problems faced by the Indian expatriates with regard to the UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) approvals and said that the Indian Embassy was in touch with the local authorities to resolve the issue.