One Indian state gets 44 more repatriation flights from UAE, as others struggle

There is a saying that greater are the chances of Arabs learning Malayalam, than Malayalis learning Arabic, in the UAE. If there is one Indian state that has been able to pull its weight during lockdown, as far as the Gulf countries are concerned, it is Kerala.

Sensing the strong demand, India has announced 44 more repatriation flights from the UAE to Kerala. These flights will operate from June 19 to 30.

Population-wise and in terms of the number of stranded Indians registered to fly back home from the UAE, Malayalis outnumber Indian expats from other states.

The readiness of the state governments in receiving the returning expats and arranging quarantine measures for them also played a big role in obtaining approvals.

The Kerala government, which had put in place several measures to receive the returning expats, was the first to approve a high number of repatriation flights and has also approved several chartered flights for stranded Malayalis from the UAE to fly home.

Thousands of people from other Indian states have been appealing for flights to return home. People from states like Maharashtra and West Bengal have been running online campaigns also to get approval for flights to their states. But only one flight to Odisha has received approval.

The first-ever repatriation flight to Mumbai would be from Abu Dhabi on June 11. A Kolkata flight is also in the works.

Besides this, chartered flights are being organised by corporate companies and community organisations to help more stranded Indians.

India has so far brought back nearly 70,000 people under the Vande Bharat Mission launched to evacuate Indians from abroad. The third phase of the exercise will begin from today and continue till June 30.