Overcoming odds to help illegals get back home

ABU DHABI — “It is painful and it hurts when those I approach for help question my intention. However, the cause for which I work, I feel, justifies the sacrifice.”


This was how Dr Shashikala described her ongoing charity mission to help illegal Asian residents in the UAE complete the formalities here and get back home.

Hailing from the south Indian city of Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh, Dr Shashikala, who is an obstetric and gynaecology doctor, has been working as medical director in Al Misbah Medical Centre in Dubai since 2002.

In June this year, she joined the Indian Consulate in Dubai as a volunteer to assist and facilitate procedures required by Indian illegals to depart during the 2007 amnesty which ended on November 3.

“I started my mission by calling close friends and relatives to donate. As the circle of donors widens, I face questions from people who doubt my intention,” the 45-year-old doctor told Khaleej Times.

Dr Shashikala said she had worked for the Ministry of Health in Muscat, Oman, for 10 years before settling in Dubai.

In India, she joined the Brahma Kumaris Worldwide University where she was teaching meditation and stress-relieving techniques.

She said now she has embarked on the mission to raise money or flight tickets to help nearly 400 Asian illegals, 300 of whom are in prison because they cannot afford the airfare.

“More than 100 illegals are in dire need of money to complete emigration clearance procedures,” she said. So far, she has managed to assist around 200 people to get flight tickets, she said.

“The message I want to convey is that there are illegal workers living in difficult conditions and are anxiously waiting for someone to arrange free tickets to go back home,” said Dr Shashikala.

She said the donation need not be in money. People can arrange flight tickets for the number of illegals they want to help.

For details, contact her over phone on 04-3975660 or 050-3592608.