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IV DAY OF WAR AGAINST IRAQ.
Today 23rd March 2003 is the fourth day of the war against Iraqi regime. We have not seen anything dangerous today, absolutely people are peaceful and there is no rush to buy food items. People are seen going to work as usual and companies are functioning as normal even though many of the organizations mainly Government and semi-Government have given their female employees one week paid off. To summarise today�s observation I can rightly say that it does not look the war is going on in Iraq as situation in Kuwait is normal. Not even Gas Masks are seen and in fact there is no much interest seen in obtaining gas masks.
As one of the invitees I attended a meeting organized by Indian Embassy at Embassy Auditorium today at 6.30 p.m. The speaker was visiting Mr. K. Roy Paul the Secretary Civil Aviation Department, Government of India. Mr. Paul briefed the attendees with all the details regarding the services provided by national carrier Air India. He said there is no need of panic, there are plenty of tickets available for any Indian intending to leave from Kuwait. Further he said Air India carry only 75% of the capacity of passengers and remaining 25% seats go empty. People wishing to leave Kuwait for India must not unnecessarily create panicky situation. About ticket fare, he said there is no chance for Air India to evacuate Indians from Kuwait free of charge as it was done in 1990 soon after the invasion of Kuwait since the situation then was totally different from what it is existing now. He concluded saying that there will be no interruption in the regular services of Air India from Kuwait to Bombay and Kuwait.
Now my proposal to Goa Chief Minister Parrikar who as reported is very much concerned about the affairs of Goan community in Kuwait. Mr. Parrikar if he is really concerned of Goan community in Kuwait then he must use his influence with Central Government and get back Goans who are unable to purchase air tickets to return home. In Kuwait there are many poor members of Goan community who really wish to return back instead of prolonging their stay in Kuwait but due to their financial difficulties they cannot. Can Parrikar do something in this matter? Can he use his influence with the Ministry of Aviation to grant some solace to these poor people? If not, can he create some special funds from Chief Minister�s Funds for this purpose? Or will he show step-motherly treatment to the needy Kuwait Goans as he does in Goa by showing step motherly treatment to Konkani by giving more grants to Marathi and Marathi oriented functions? Government of Kuwait according to today�s report has given opportunity for illegal residents to leave Kuwait without any punishment by taking the advantage of the prevailing warry situation. There may be very many Goans falling into this category and for these people need of air ticket is of utmost importance. Can Parrikar do something for these miserable people?
As a matter of interest during the time of Kuwait Indian evacuation in 1990 soon after the invasion of Kuwait, Government of India at Bombay Airport exchanged the then one Kuwaiti Dinar with Indian Rupees Twenty Five. Soon after the liberation of Kuwait the rate of same Dinar gone to Indian Rupees One Hundred Twenty Five. The excess amount earned by the Government of India was not returned to the Kuwait evacuees but it finally gone into the coffers of Government of India which owns Air India that brought Kuwait evacuees back to India, free of charge. The free of charge service provided to Kuwait evacuees was sounded very loudly but the excess amount collected from Kuwait evacuees as indicated above was not mentioned anywhere. Besides, by sending their remittances Government of India accumulated lot of foreign exchange. In view of this, the Kuwait NRI employment is very helpful for the Government of India and in return what these NRI get is very negligible.
Meantime, since there was no fear of war today, innumerable Indians in Kuwait including a good number of Goans were totally glued to watch the Cricket Final. Well done Australia, they deserve the victory for the excellent show they put in. Let us all be bold enough to cheer the victorious team Australia and accept their victory because theirs was the best efforts. They played much much better than Indians. Better team must finally win. Once again congratulations to Australia and better luck to India next time. I hope Indian fanatics will not burn the houses of Indian Cricketers because Indians are very emotional. They know to give hero worship to the winners and zero worship to the losers. This is the worst part of Indian attitude.
A. Veronica Fernandes, Kuwait.
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