Media Release
Abu Dhabi, May 9: It is joyful news to share that the wholehearted and collective efforts of Karnataka NRI Forum, UAE and its president, Praveen Shetty made it possible to have the first repatriation flight to Mangaluru – Karnataka from UAE. The Union Minister of India, Sadananda Gowda tweeted on May 9 that the evacuation flight will fly from Dubai on May 12 with stranded citizens of India in UAE.
The whole world is under the impact of the pandemic COVID-19. The Government of India announced the flights to repatriate its stranded citizens from all over the world, but sadly, the first batch of the announced flights had no mention of any flights from the Gulf countries to Karnataka.
In the Gulf countries, especially the UAE, thousands of Kannadigas are working for a livelihood. A major part of the population comprises of coastal Karnataka people who are from Mangaluru, Udupi and other nearby districts. This lack of consideration of Mangalureans for repatriation put all the Kannadigas in deep sadness, while several Kannadigas waited for flights to obtain urgent medical assistance and other medical support back in their home country.
On coming to know that there were no flights to Karnataka from the UAE, Praveen Shetty immediately acted upon it and wrote a letter to the concerned departments and ministers under the banner KNRI. Praveen Shetty was in continuous follow up with the deputy chief minister of Karnataka, Dr Ashwath Narayan, Minister for Tourism of Karnataka C T Ravi, union minister of India, Sadananda Gowda, minister of Parliamentary Affairs (India), Pralhad Joshi, minister of Railways of India, (minister of state) Suresh Angadi and officials of the aviation ministry along with other concerned departments.
The efforts paid off with the desired result and finally the confirmation was obtained from Sadananda Gowda about consideration of repatriation flights to Mangaluru from Dubai on May 12. It is expected that the aviation ministry will officially announce the flight arrangement and other operational information shortly.
Speaking to the media, Praveen Shetty said, "Karnataka NRI Forum is always committed to serve Kannadigas and the collective effort of the core committee members, ministers of Karnataka and Government of India including the aviation and other concerned ministries made possible the most important and much-awaited flight to Mangaluru from UAE to repatriate expats who are in need. I thank everyone who joined hands to make this possible."
Praveen Shetty is a well-known businessman in UAE who manages Fortune Group of Hotels in UAE and Georgia. He selflessly gave his three-star hotel to the UAE ministry to operate as a quarantine facility for people who are under observation with COVID-19. Also, he collaborated with organizations in UAE who are extending a helping hand to the needy people in the UAE.
With the help of likeminded 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 in quarantine and isolation with the help of Dubai Health Authority, ministry of health, Dubai Police and Consulate General of India under the guidelines of the Dubai government.
Praveen Shetty expressed his gratitude to 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.