Indian expatriate, stranded in Qatar for nine years, finally goes home
An Indian expatriate, who was not able to go home for the last nine years, left Qatar on Wednesday following the lifting of legal hurdles by the authorities, Gulf Times reported.
His return was facilitated after the Ministry of Interior withdrew cases against him on such issues as non- payment of bank loans, defaulting repayment of credit card dues and staying in the country without a valid residence permit.
P Nair (61), who hailed from the southern Indian state of Kerala, was employed as a supervisor at a government-owned company but he was terminated from service towards the middle of 2008 and had been stranded here since then. He last travelled to India in 2007.
While in service, Nair had taken a loan from one of the banks in Doha and following his loss of job was not able to travel out of the country without clearing his outstanding dues. The man had also an amount outstanding against his credit card issued by another bank.
Though he had sought the Indian embassy's assistance to bail him out of his problems, the mission could not do much.
Police caught him more than once for not being able to produce a valid RP card but let him off once they realised his predicament.
Nair had been doing some odd jobs to eke out a living but a cardiac surgery more than three years ago had restricted his movement. The Qatar Charity provided financial assistance to him when he was admitted to the hospital.
In 2014, during the Holy month of Ramadan, the bank made an attractive offer to him. While he had an outstanding arrears of more than QR75,000, the lender agreed to settle the loan if he repaid QR25,000 in a single installment.
When they came to learn about his plight, a few philanthropists in the Indian community came forward to help him.
Though his journey to his homeland was delayed owing to further legal hurdles, about a month ago Ministry of Interior (MoI) officials told him of their decision to repatriate him after the cases against him were withdrawn.
"I just don’t know how to thank the people who helped me. But for the assistance, my return wouldn’t have come even now," Nair told Gulf Times a few hours before boarding the evening flight to his home country.
Courtesy: gulf-times.com
The great help was from the bank...But the Bank lose the rest of the money !!
It is because it is all too easy to get loans - As soon as they get a bank account, they think about getting a loan to buy land back home, marry daughters, buy cars etc
Why the hell on earth people take loans from banks ? Stop following materialism and be happy in whatever your are making... do not get into the traps of loans... For God's sake!!
9 years is a very long time. Great work by those who helped him out, by Qatar Charity, and also the bank who decided to bring down the amount he owed.
Tears are flowing in my eyes as I read this article. May Allah Reward these heroes a million times for their generosity. Last time I cried like this is when I watched a holocaust movie(The pianist).
Enjoy your life back home and have joys my pal
Hats off to those who helped him in his plight - May the Lord reward you