I believe that all great achievements and success in life, and all changes for the better, have one powerful characteristic in common: The First Step. Take the first step, and the journey has a way of taking care of itself.”
Travel to India this summer is simply not affordable for ordinary salaried Indians in the UAE. The low-salaried shouldn't even think about it. (Air India remains in holding pattern, June 22).
Almost no seats are available this weekend from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to anywhere in India, and the seats on offer seem to be priced starting at Dh3,200, or Dh2,500 one way.
With Air India's labour unrest and other problems, travel back home has become a nightmare, especially for emergencies.
Helpless as ever, we non-resident Indians can only convey our wishes to India's civil aviation authorities.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit The National online
Sadhya - animated gif file. The only one of its kind in the web. You can use it in your email, greetings, or powerpoint files. Feel free to share it with your friends. Presentation Courtesy - Kunduvara Balagopal Menon & family.
Egg rice is a very easy preparation, that can be made quick
and easy, with fresh rice or even left over rice. Served hot, it will be
relished by children and adults alike. So, why not we try it out today.
Items required:
Biriyani rice – 1 cup
Egg – 2
Turmeric powder – quarter teaspoon
Black pepper powder – quarter teaspoon
Corriander powder – half teaspoon
Salt – add to taste
Fresh Green (or red) chillie – cut into small pieces – 4 or
5
Onion (Sabola) – cut into fine pieces – one or two
Cooking oil / coconut oil – 2 teaspoon
Ghee – 1 or two teaspoon
The following ingredients are not mandatory – but can
include to add taste and flavor:
Curry leaves – few
Corriander leaves – cut into fine pieces – 2 teaspoon
Method:
-Switch on the stove and keep moderate flame.
-Pour one or two teaspoon of ghee to the pressure
cooker and then add the biriyani rice to it.
-Mix it well for approximately 5 minutes till the
rice and ghee blend with each other.
-Add 2 cups of water and then boil this mix.
-In a small bowl, mix the egg, turmeric powder,
black pepper powder, salt and coriander powder well.
-Take a fry pan and pour the cooking or coconut
oil to it and then fry the fine cut onion, fresh green chillie and fry it till
it becomes almost red and well.
-Now add, the egg/turmeric powder/black
powder/coriander powder blended mix to this.
-Stir well for about 1-2 minutes.
-Add the rice mix to this.
-Mix well, boil for a few more minutes.
A very tasty Egg Rice is ready for your children to relish.
Wait. Now is the fun. You can make this more tasty with the
addition of the following items each time you give them:
-Garnish the preparation with curry leaves and
coriander leaves, either together or individually.
-Or, add cashew nuts, ginger, cardamom, finely
sliced tomato or garlic or even any other spices, to the onion mix, either
individually or together and then give this rice a fresh taste and novelty each
time you serve to yourself or your family and children.
I am sure, this is one item, you can make in several
different ways, but very easy and one which help you to never depend on restaurants.
Presentation and Photography by: Ramesh Menon. Prepare it, Taste it and revert to us with your comments.
Note: Recipes presented to you at www.gopur.in are as much possible, simple home-made and tested delicacies. The recipes that you submit will be your own, or made by someone else, in which case you must say who they are by and confirm that you have tried and tested it out. You may submit recipes taken from other recipes web sites, as long as you site the source. By submitting your recipes to us you grant us the right to publish your recipes.We may publish your recipe anywhere on our website. We may also change where it appears, including the category, at any time.Submitting your recipes to us does not entitle you to financial compensation of any kind. You will not receive compensation from us or the users of our web site.Photographs submitted along with recipes should be original and of high resolution quality.Recipes must be spell-checked and proof read for grammatical errors prior to submitting. Do not submit recipes filled with spelling errors and bad grammar. Submitting a recipe in no ways guarantees inclusion in our directory. We reserve the right to reject a recipe submission for any reason.We do monitor recipe submissions and we will reject content that doesn't meet this requirement.Thank you for your interest.
Vice-President
urges public to take part in UAE National Logo selection
Residents asked to vote for one logo from five finalists
By Derek Baldwin, Chief Reporter GULF NEWS Published: June
24, 2012
Dubai: In a country now home to some of the most famous
brand placements in the world, the UAE has launched plans to come up with its
very own brand logo to promote itself locally and abroad.
Two months after the UAE was named the second preferred
international market by the world’s top 326 retail brands, the UAE is asking
the public’s help to select its new future logo.
Five logo finalists have already been chosen and their work
has been posted on www.uaepm.ae, the website of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad
Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler
of Dubai.
The Ruler has also posted the logo launch on Twitter, where
he said the brand logo will be used locally and abroad in all national
promotional campaigns, projecting a unified UAE identity and highlight the
uniqueness of the UAE.
The voting process begins on Sunday and ends on July 18,
2012.
Members of the public will be able to vote for one of the
five logos uploaded on the Prime Minister’s website. The chosen logo will have
variations that can be used in both Arabic and English.
Shaikh Mohammad said that the usage of the logo will be a
part of a strategic plan that is based on coordination between governmental and
non-governmental bodies to use major events held both locally and abroad to
spread and narrate the nation’s message and story to the world.
Visitors to the website are being given the opportunity to
select their favourite brand logo that best represents the country.
“The nation brand logo that you are going to choose is a
promotional logo for the UAE. It shall be used locally and internationally to
promote a unified identity for the UAE and express its unique aspects setting
it apart from other nations around the world,” the website stated.
“The UAE nation brand is to be used as a visual identity for
the nation, to communicate to the world its vision and tell its story. The
nation brand must reflect the UAE’s global economic and political status and
its diverse and attractive cultural and business environment, which make it a
leading destination for tourism, economic, and cultural activities.”
The push to brand itself is a wise move in a world with a
growing roster of big brand logos and recognisable names, said a Dubai-based
branding expert on Sunday.
Haroon Popal, creative manager at Creative Studio, is a
specialist in branding, design and logos and said that the branding move “means
the UAE wants to position itself in the world to be recognised. Brand awareness
is very necessary.”
Branding, he said, is more than just picking a graphic and a
fancy font.
“When you brand something, it adds value, whether it’s a
company or a country. It becomes valuable,” Popal said.
Constantly exposing a brand to the public also helps create
a sense of awareness and identity that people begin to recognise automatically,“When you see something again and again, you start building
trust. It will create recognition, build trust. It also helps one to identify
itself a certain style,” Popal said.
Whenever an entity chooses to rebrand, it means they are
seeking increased awareness about who they are, what they offer and the values
for which they stand, he said.
Voting for the new logo semi-finalists began on Sunday and
will remain open until July 18 – visitors to the website can only vote for one
design.
To vote, log on to
http://services.moca.gov.ae/en/index.aspx.
With input from WAM / Source, credits and thanks to : GULF NEWS
DUBAI // Smartphone users have been warned not to meet strangers who advertise jobs or ask for donations via BlackBerry Messenger.
Dubai State Security also warned against sending money or private information in response to BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) pings from unknown sources.
The same advice applies to instant messaging applications, such as WhatsApp, that work on other smartphones.
"Bogus job advertisements for government and private companies have been circulated as well as humanitarian relief calls, without stating any official source or entity," State Security said.
Several complaints have been received on the crime hotline, Al Ameen, that BBM technology was being misused by criminals to lure victims.
"We have found that these delinquents present their personal email addresses on the messages to get to know women and exploit their need for work or humanitarian help," State Security said.
Users collect CVs and private details of individuals mainly to harass and sexually assault women.
Khalid Al Ali received messages on BBM related to blood donations for accident victims.
"With such things I usually try to verify the information and call the sender. At other times you see messages and know they are baseless."
Mr Al Ali said messages campaigning against products and items were often based on unverified information, such as an incident last year when a BBM message that did the rounds said Mars bars contained pork fat.
"There was a BBC report that claimed Mars bars had animal fats, which was later recanted, and I started receiving BlackBerry broadcasts about these things months later from people.
Nobody verified this information and people tend to believe such things," he said.
Sham messages have been increasing over the years, according to Dushi Mahesh, from Sri Lanka.
"I have been a BlackBerry user for almost four years now and have seen the number of bogus broadcasts increasing," he said.
"I think the people sending these messages are gullible and do not know that they are potentially endangering their security and that of others."
The Al Ameen hotline was launched in September 2003 to provide a platform for communication between community members and the state security administration within Dubai Police.
The public is urged to report any unsolicited messages received via BBM (or through other instant messaging platforms) that ask for personal details or donations. Such incidents can be reported anonymously to Al Ameen on 800 4888 or by SMS to 4444.
Source/credits and thanks to : THE NATIONAL/Awad Mustafa
Taking serious cognizance of past accidents of children falling into borewells, Government has issued guidelines for its construction.
"The guidelines are issued after the Supreme Court's directives in the backdrop of number of cases in which children had been trapped and fallen into borewells, tubewells and abandoned wells," an official from Water Supply Department said.
As per the guidelines, it would be mandatory that a person must inform in writing at least 15 days in advance to the authorities concerned in the area about construction of the borewell.
The drilling agency should be registered and a sign board to be put up near construction of the well displaying address of drilling agency and owner of the well, it said.
During the construction, the well should be surrounded by barriers or fencing, it added.
The tube should be covered and abandoned wells should be filled up with clay, boulders and pebbles.
You may please share this with your friends as a reminder, in case such an activity is planned at their premises.
Uncomfortable seating causes public bus users discomfort
No air conditioning a turn-off for bus users during cross-emirate trips
By Ramesh Menon, Gulf News reader, Published: June 24, 2012
Image Credit: Ramesh Menon/Gulf News Reader
While traveling from Abu Dhabi to Dubai, Ramesh Menon found
his journey enjoyable as the newer bus was comfortable and offered a smooth
ride.
In order to go to Dubai from Abu Dhabi one Friday morning, I
decided to use the bus instead of driving, as I thought - why drive unnecessarily
when there is an efficient bus system in place?
I went to the main bus station and was told by the security
personnel to go inside the station to collect a ticket.
Inside, I approached a staff member to purchase a ticket and
handed him a Dh100 note. He told me he had no change, but after waiting there
for a few minutes and after a few other passengers had purchased tickets, I was
able to get mine.
I walked back to the bus, which was one of the latest models
and was ready and waiting. After a 10-minute wait, the journey started.
The bus was comfortable, the air-conditioner worked properly
and the journey was smooth. I dozed off automatically, as I relaxed.
For the price of Dh15, I had the safest and most comfortable
journey I could ever take to reach Dubai from Abu Dhabi.
>Image Credit: Gulf News archive Menon's trip back to Abu Dhabi was a lot less
comfortable as the older bus' air conditioning and seating were not up to par.
However, on my return trip, upon reaching the Bur Dubai bus
station, I found the queue for the bus comparatively large. I found the ticket
station and collected my ticket, but realised it was neither the same type of
bus nor the same ticket price.
The bus was older and the charge from Dubai to Abu Dhabi was
Dh25.
It was relatively noisy all the way to Abu Dhabi and the air
conditioner was not at all proper. Rather, it was not there at all.
Added to all that, the seats were not at all comfortable and
the two-hour journey back was really cumbersome.
By the time I reached Abu Dhabi, I was really tired, sweaty
and exhausted.
While I commend this service provided to the general public
and praise its efficiency, I humbly request the authorities check that the air
conditioning system in each bus is in good condition.
Also, all buses should be fitted with comfortable seats,
especially those taking passengers on a two-hour journey or longer. They could
also set one price of Dh15 for the trip from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and back.
I am sure if these changes are implemented, more of the
general public will show interest in using the bus services to travel between
the emirates.
The reader is a technical officer based in Abu Dhabi.
Be a community reporter. Tell us what is happening in your community. Send us your videos and pictures at readers@gulfnews.com
To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS online.
Talking to a group of labourers working outside one recent afternoon, I learnt that there are some side effects of the strict implementation of the midday break (Building sites stick to midday break rule, June 16). These side effects may even spoil the positive effects of the midday work stoppage.
For example, some workers are transported back to their individual labour camps, where they are forced to relax without air-condition or water facilities, as they are either switched off or cut to avoid usage during noon hours.
There are companies that take care of their workers, but not all of them do. And as I learnt, midday break rule violations are just the tip of the iceberg.
Take health care. If a worker from an irresponsible company becomes sick, he has to continue going to work or risks cuts to his salary. Medical assistance is also not always available in case of injury.
Authorities should put parallel survey and compliance procedures in place at labour camps during noontime breaks, to monitor how breaks are being given and to ensure workers are afforded comfortable rest, with air conditioning and water.
Checks should also be made with increasing frequency within the city to make sure workers are not toiling in the sun during noon hours.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online
Summer is getting into it's extreme here and several times I wish, if it rains here at least once in a month. How nice it would have been?! Hmm, no luck.. Then I change my wish and think, how lucky we all would be, if it rains, at least once in three months... Hmm.. no way... nothing doing...It remains a wish like that. But, few years ago, it rained for two days continuously in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. As usual, I didn't miss that golden opportunity to click some photos and videos of the rain in UAE.
With the habit of sharing things, I blogged the video that time. Last year when Mathrubhumi online started the Yuvog - their video only site, friends from that team asked me to start posting in it, and see how it is. I started enjoying the free uploads option there and then continued posting whenever there is an important event or activity to video share.
It's monsoon season in Kerala and today, Mathrubhumi online have come out with a special feature on rain - Peyyattangane Peyyatte.. (let it continue to rain..).. and in it they have specially featured this video.
Thank you Team Yuvog and Mathrubhumi. Those who wish to read it there may click on "Peyyattangane Peyyatte"
I have also included another video of a rain opportunity I captured while at a short visit to Bengaluru.
Enjoy both videos.
Rain at Abu Dhabi and Dubai
Rain at Bengaluru
If you are currently on holidays in Kerala or from anywhere, you can upload your rain photos at:
I think we should fine drivers who keep their cars running
idle for a long period (A midday break to benefit everyone, June 19).
Very often we get to see expensive cars with their engines
on, without a driver inside and probably locked from the outside using a spare
key.
The sight is common in front of major offices and shopping
areas. This is a waste of valuable energy and may present a danger during the
hot summer.
People ignore advice on this issue, just to avoid a few
minutes of sitting inside a hot car - something they could easily overcome by
driving for a few minutes with open windows.
I think the authorities should ensure that Mawaqif
inspectors fine drivers those who do this.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.
Enforcement of the law protecting workers who are out in the sun this summer period is commendable.
But perhaps the rule should be applied to others working outside. Mawaqif inspectors, for instance, are out all day. Why not give them a respite? While we're at it, how about a summer free of Mawaqif parking fees? That would be a true win-win.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
To read it in original, please visit THE NATIONAL online.
Fresh Ginger – 100 gms (cut into fine small pieces)
Garlic – a few bulbs to taste
Fresh Lemon – 2
Tumeric powder – a small pinch
Salt – add to taste
Coconut oil – add to taste
Method:
Wash and cut the eggplant to small pieces. This is important
because, eggplants are prone to worm infection and hence, it should be cut into
small pieces and carefully checked before cooking.
Cut Pepper, Ginger, and garlic and small red onion into
small pieces.
To a vessel, add little water, and transfer the eggplant,
chili pepper red, ginger, small red onion and garlic.
Add a little salt, a pinch of turmeric powder and close the
container and boil it.
When you see that the mix is boiled to a medium level, take
it out and allow it to cool.
Transfer the moderately well boiled mix to a mixer and then
blend it well.
Add a little of coconut oil to a frying pan and allow it to
heat.
Now transfer the blended mix to a frying pan and mix it with
the oil and allow it to boil well.
Once you see it is well boiled, take it out and allow to
cool.
Now add, the juice squeezed out from the fresh lemon and mix
it well. Add additional salt if necessary.
Garnish it with curry leaves, just to add a bit of extra
flavor.
The chammanthi mix is now ready to eat along with rice,
porridge or any even bread.
This item will be very tasty when having rice or porridge
curd or laban.
Special note:
Studies have shown eggplant is effective in the treatment of
high blood cholesterol. It helps to block the formation of free radicals and is
also a source of folic acid and potassium. Eggplant is richer in nicotine than
any other edible plant, with a concentration of 100 ng/g (or 0.01 mg/100g).
Ginger should be added while making eggplant preparations as
some may find it difficult to digest.
Lemon juice is added to give sour taste. If you do not like
sour taste, you can avoid it. Garlic and small red oninon can be avoided.
Presentation and Photography by: Ramesh Menon.
Prepare it, Taste it and revert to us with your comments.
Note: Recipes presented to you at www.gopur.in are as much possible, simple home-made and tested delicacies. The recipes that you submit will be your own, or made by someone else, in which case you must say who they are by and confirm that you have tried and tested it out. You may submit recipes taken from other recipes web sites, as long as you site the source. By submitting your recipes to us you grant us the right to publish your recipes.We may publish your recipe anywhere on our website. We may also change where it appears, including the category, at any time.Submitting your recipes to us does not entitle you to financial compensation of any kind. You will not receive compensation from us or the users of our web site.Photographs submitted along with recipes should be original and of high resolution quality.Recipes must be spell-checked and proof read for grammatical errors prior to submitting. Do not submit recipes filled with spelling errors and bad grammar. Submitting a recipe in no ways guarantees inclusion in our directory. We reserve the right to reject a recipe submission for any reason.We do monitor recipe submissions and we will reject content that doesn't meet this requirement.Thank you for your interest.
A clear and enlarged version of the photo can be seen below.
Cotton clothing
The Fujairah Municipality’s instruction to employers to provide appropriate light cotton clothing to those who work outside during the summer period, is praiseworthy.
I hope this and more worker-friendly actions will be followed by the other emirates, too, to safeguard those who work outside.
In addition, mandatory safety checks should be made on the tyres used on the heavy-duty trucks and public buses.
Let the progressive actions by the authorities reduce the summer stress for these silent heroes.
To read it in original, please visit Khaleej Times online.
Wash the brown boiled rice well and keep it aside for some time for water to ooze out from it.
Take a thick based vessel, add about half a litter of water and boil it. In olden days, traditional cookware called as Uruli (made of bell metal) is used to prepare Payassam, which requires, continuous heating and stirring for a long time.
First and foremost precaution is to keep continuous constant flame, medium enough to cover the full base of the vessel.
When the water starts boiling, add, the neatly washed and by now clean and dry brown-boiled rice.
Continue boiling.
When the rice starts cooking to its half, add about 1 litre of milk and 250 gms of sugar.
Continue stirring from this point, gently covering the whole area of the content, to mix well, but not to break the rice or smash it.
This process will increase the boiling time of rice while giving milk and sugar to blend well with it.
As you see the water and milk content of the mix getting reduced, add 1 more litre of milk and 500 gms of sugar to it.
Continue stirring at intervals, keeping the flame constant.
When you see the milk getting mixed well with the sugar and rice mix in the vessel and the content quantity getting thicker, add the remaining quantity of milk and sugar and continue to stir and mix well.
After some time, you will get the natural flavor of milk, sugar, and rice mix coming out as you see the content sufficiently thick and cooked enough to be served. You will the natural aroma of Pal Paayassam in the air as you take a small spoon full of it in your hand and feel it well within your palm.
To add a divine touch to it, add five or six leaves of Krishna thulasi to the content. Keep it closed and let it mix with the content in the hot vapour coming out inside the vessel and spread the aroma of it all over the contents.
Special note:
Do not add any other ingredients like cashew nuts, grapes, cardamom or saffron to garnish it.
Quantity of sugar can be reduced or increased as per your taste. However, constant stirring and proportionate increase of milk is important to get the natural taste.
Avoid preparing Paal Paayassam in Pressure Cookers.
Continuous stirring and constant medium sized and regular flame (without getting thicker) is very important while preparing it. This is very important while making Paal Paayassam. The fire and flame level and continuous concentration on the process happening add or decrease the taste of the product.
Traditional Paal Payassam is called as the Maharajah of all Paayassam. There is an interesting story about it. Kunjan Nambiar was famous for wits and tastes. During his time, there was an elaborate feast where many distinguished guests were invited by the King. Relishing all the items served, Kunjan Nambiar was full and said “I am full and I do not have any more place within”. The King wanted to poke Nambiar and enjoy his wits, ordered the servants to bring Paal Paayassam. There it comes with its natural aura and beauty and Nambiar couldn’t resist. On one side, it was ordered for him by the King and on the other hand it was too tempting. Kunjan Nambiar had a go at it and all were surprised including the King. Smiling at Nambiar, the King asked, “a short while ago, you only said, you do not have any space in your stomach, and here you had a good quantity of Paal Paayassam”. Equally smiling, Kunjan Nambiar answered to the king, “Your Majesty, imagine a huge crowd at our temple without even an inch of space to spare. And there come the announcement of the arrival of the Maharajah for darshan! All crowd will move to the side to make way for the Maharajah. Similarly, when your deliciously prepared Paal Paayassam was served, all other items I had just before, gave way for it in my stomach to accommodate whatever quantity you served to me.
The King smiled and gave gifts and blessings to Kunjan Nambiar.
നെയ്യാറ്റിന്കര വോട്ടു വിവരങ്ങള് സശ്രദ്ധം വീക്ഷിക്കുന്ന മിട്ടു എന്ന തത്തമ്മ
An interesting scene. A twenty 20 like feeling...My parrot Mittoo found it somehow interesting and have been in front of the TV since the telecast of Neyyaattinkara by-election poll vote counting started.
Travel to India – during this week-end or summer - Just
forget it if you are an ordinary salaried Indian. Yes, the time to e-travel
yourself for your home needs in India has come. It is simply not possible to
get a seat on an emergency basis, at an affordable ticket fare, for ordinary
middle income group NRI from UAE. For low salaried, not to think about it even.
No seats available during this extended weekend to any of
the numerous sectors from Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports. All the airlines,
irrespective of whether they fly from Dubai or Abu Dhabi has no availability.
Even the ones with one or two available seat, tickets are priced at AED 3200/-
+ on return and /or even single in some sectors for one seat. Even that is not available.
You ask Mumbai, no seats, you ask Madras - no seats, you ask Bengaluru - no seats, you ask Kochi - no seats... Or, higher economy seats priced above AED 2500/+ range for one way.
With Airline pilots on strike, continuing and new flights getting cancelled every other day and with Kingfisher moving out, travel back home is a nightmare, especially if it is on an emergency.
Good wishes to Indian Aviation Minister, Indian Civil
Aviation Authorities, Striking Staff of airlines, numerous NRI speakers, so
called “we will do everything for you NRIs sayers”. For them, any available
opportunity to visit, they have other International Airlines to fly them in on
Business or First Class at whatever cost levied from the tax payers accounts.
Time has come for ordinary NRIs to upgrade themselves to
e-PRESENCE mode for all their personal home visit requirements.
I noticed a group of little birds coming and sitting in my balcony some time ago and then when they started making regular visit to one of the trees at one corner of it, I knew they were searching for a suitable place to lay the eggs. I did not want to miss an opportunity and tried my best to create a perfect setting for it. Choose to dry that particular plant by not watering it. Kept suitable dried branches and even started feeding them once in a while.
Soon, I found two eggs and a bird sitting on top of it.
By then, those birds were aware of my presence and did not object or fly away even when I went closer to it's nest.
For the last two weeks, every night and morning, I used to watch them taking turns. When I got up this morning, and saw the bird closely, I knew, there was life, real life and not one, but two under it.
After watching me closely, it flew away. What surprised me was the fact that there was not even a single piece of egg shell anywhere near.
Good wishes to the new members of this world.
Born in the UAE on 14th June 2012.
I will try and follow them till they become independent.
Whenever I go to my native, I pass by the railway station.
It is a great feeling to stand there on that railway platform and watch the
trains passing by. Some trains stop there, some not. Sitting on one of the
benches and watching the passengers who continue the journey or getting down or
getting in, we could read lot of emotions and expressions. Within that few
minutes, everything is over, and the train continues it’s journey, controlled
by the engine driver and the numerous signals.
Thinking about it more, our life is just similar to that of
a train journey. We get in at some point in it, att some station. We come
across many inside and see many from distance and even outside. With some we
try and make conversations and then become friends, with some, we may get
annoyed and even end up in confronting situation.. We get down where we want to
or they get down wherever they have to.
The only difference is in our train journey of “life” we may
not have the choice of getting in and obviously getting out whenever or
wherever we want to.
So, let us live our life peacefully, beautifully and
gracefully well.
Tenancy contract and utility bill mandatory for UAE
residence visa
Rule will be implemented after summer break and people will
be informed about it: top official
By Iman Sherif, Staff Reporter/GULF NEWS
Abu Dhabi: The authorities’ new requirement of a tenancy
contract and copies of utility bills to get a residence visa has not been
reverted but only postponed, a top official has confirmed to Gulf News.
“The implementation of the decree is not immediate, as the
authorities are allowing a grace period for people to return from the summer
holidays, and people will be informed of the dates when this becomes
mandatory,” the official said.
“ The decision is not targeting any party or property group
but it will serve those departments seeking accurate data about foreigners’
residences ”
Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali Earlier, the rule was to be implemented from June 1
According to Major General Nasser Al Awadi Al Menhali, the
Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Naturalisation,
Residency and Ports Affair, requesting a copy of the housing contract or
electricity and water invoice to issue a residency visa, is an administrative
decision aimed at maintaining accurate records of people’s places of residence.
“Many residents change their addresses, and it has become
difficult for the authorities to reach them. Labourers, whose companies provide
them with group housing, have to provide a document that states their address
along with a letter from the company, or any contract document, that proves
where they live,” Al Menhali said.
Gulf News broke the story last week that tenancy contracts
and electricity bills would be mandatory to renew a residence visa or to apply
for a new one from June 1.
Security purposes
“The decree aims primarily to provide addresses of all
residents for security purposes. The decree does not target a specific category
of people, but rather provides the residency sector with accurate, updated and
correctly documented database,” Al Menhali said.
“The procedure will be unified across the UAE. It is a
procedure that is applied worldwide and not only in the UAE,” he added.
A residency official told Gulf News that the new decision is
aimed at improving living conditions, as well as maintaining an accurate census
of families living in the UAE and the number of members in each family.
“This procedure is to prevent more than one family from
living together as currently four or five families share the same housing,” he
said.
“Families will not be allowed to share housing,” he added.
Responding to queries Al Menhali said those sharing
accommodation must also present proof of their residence by submitting a
tenancy contract or utility bill in their names.
“Those working with companies which provide them with
collective accommodation must present proof of their residence, an address and
a letter from the employer showing where he resides,” he added.
Al Menhali underlined that the new rule is primarily aimed
at verifying the residence of all expatriates living in the UAE for security
and procedural reasons.
“It is a security, administrative and service decision taken
by the immigration and foreign affairs departments in the country”.
“The decision is not targeting any party or property group
but it will serve those departments seeking accurate data about foreigners’
residences,” he added.
My comments as follows:
Thank you for the clarifications on the tenancy contract
requirements. This is not a new requirement for visa processing. However, the
implementation of attestation process and procedures for residency proof
documents, like direct tenancy contract with owners, rental agreement with
agencies, and attestation of electricity and telephone bills, if mandatory
should be done through an appropriate attestation desk controlled by the
authorities. These attestation offices should be set up either at the
immigration offices or at specific public points and should function throughout
after office hours. This will help residents avoid running around from one
office to another and can reduce waste of professional man hours for processing
residency permits. Linking important facility ownership details with UAE ID
cards will help assist this process of verification. Currently, car ownership
is done in a similar manner and can incorporate the ones like tenancy details,
etisalat and dewa account details etc.
Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi, United Arab
Emirates
To read it in original, please visit GULF NEWS online.
ABU DHABI // Confused applicants for residence visas faced the third change in less than two weeks yesterday, and the second in 24 hours.
Earlier, interior ministry authorities had said that from June 1 new or renewed visas would be issued only on production of attested copies of a valid lease contract and utility bills as proof of address.
On Sunday, the ministry reversed that change and said no such documents were required. Yesterday, however, it clarified that the documents were indeed required, but they need not be attested.
The confusion was evident yesterday at immigration offices. In Al Ain, authorities were asking visa applicants to produce a copy of their tenancy contracts. In Abu Dhabi, they did not.
Long queues built up at the customer care desk in Al Ain immigration department as residents gathered to inquire about the new rules.
One, Joshep Ereira, said: “I have been to the immigration office and found out that they are still asking for the tenancy contract and utility bills. There are now endless woes and frustration, not to mention the long lines at the information counter of people all trying to find out about the new residence visa law.
“I am not exactly sure what the region of Al Ain is trying to achieve from all this. People are really going to get more and more frustrated from lack of information about laws changing from time to time in Abu Dhabi and having no effect in Al Ain."
Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi city another resident applying for a visa for his family was not asked for either a tenancy contract or utility bills yesterday, and immigration officials were processing paperwork as usual.
Maj Gen Nasser Al Menhali, the assistant undersecretary at the Ministry of Interior responsible for residency, said yesterday the revised rules would be implemented nationwide in an effort by the ministry to compile a database of residents’ addresses.
It was necessary to have the addresses in order to reach residents quickly in case of emergency, and the old addresses were unclear, imprecise and hard to find in a timely manner, he said.
Maj Gen Al Menhali said: “No attestation of the tenancy contract is required from the municipality and this rule is going to be implemented across the Emirates.”
He said the decision by the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigner Affairs in Abu Dhabi to require the extra documentation was “an administrative decision meant to ease the process of identifying people’s domiciles and to ascertain their place of residence”.
Responding to requests for clarification of the decision and its impact on those living in shared accommodation, Maj Gen Al Menhali said: “The decision applies to anyone who has a home address and will be applicable to all the Emirates.”
A tenancy contract or a water and electricity bill must be attached to the visa renewal application as proof of the applicant’s place of residence, he said.
Labourers who work for companies that offer collective housing must also bring proof of where they live, providing an address and a letter from their employer to that effect, or any form of contract that substantiates their place of residence, he said.
The requirement is intended “first and foremost to verify the addresses of all residents in the country for security and procedural purposes”, he said.
Maj Gen Al Menhali added: “It is a security, service-related and administrative measure taken by the General Directorates for Residency and Foreigner Affairs in the nation. It does not target any particular social segment or property developer; it simply serves residency departments in updating their data, establishing the addresses of people residing in the country and documenting them properly.”
He also said the requirements were not unique to the UAE, and were common in many developed countries.
It was indeed confusing reports in the last few days regarding the documentation process for residence visa. However, the requirement of tenancy contract is not a new one. However, the new procedure of implementation of attestation process for residency proof documents, like direct tenancy contract with owners, rental agreement with agencies, and attestation of electricity and telephone bills, if mandatory should be done through an appropriate attestation desk controlled by the authorities. These attestation offices should be set up either at the immigration offices or at specific public points and should function throughout after office hours. This will help residents avoid running around from one office to another and can reduce waste of professional man hours for processing residency permits. Linking important facility ownership details with UAE ID cards will help assist this process of verification. Currently, car ownership is done in a similar manner and can incorporate the ones like tenancy details, etisalat and dewa account details etc. Best wishes to UAE authorities in regulating illegal residents and always keeping accurate on information on its resident population.
In the beginning of 1990s, when I landed with my first job
in the emirate of Dubai, I happened to stay as guest with a family in Karama. I
was moving to Dubai for the first time, after a disastrous start in Abu Dhabi and then looking for a good break here and there and nowhere like. I was made
comfortable in the initial days by the ever smiling presence of a young man and
his wife and two children. I am always attracted to children who has sparks of
brilliance or creativity in them and I really blended well with them. It was a
scene of surprise and awe for me as this little boy who could barely walk a few
steps and then fall down in front of me but had a tremendous will power in him
to get up and walk the remaining steps towards his goal.
His father was his
inspiration and his mother and elder sister support and solace. Without no lift
to come down from the third floor apartment, his father used to carry him down and take him to the school bus
and school and then the numerous medical treatment and therapies including
swimming.
Life moved on and I too moved on from them and this little boy grew bigger, better, stronger, intelligent and ambitious to be one among us.
In between we lost contact for several years. After some 7
or 8 years, I reconnected with them one day and as fate has its own way in our
life, his ever loving and smiling father passed away on a Friday morning within
a short period of our meeting. I was back to Abu Dhabi by then and immediately rushed down
to Dubai hearing this sad news.
His father, Late Sri E N Sukumaran, was an
inspiration to many of his friends and well wishers. Those who all know him
never misses his presence, even so many years after his death. That was the
personality of the man and there were numerous friends and well wishers in that
home at that moment. Seeing me amongst the crowd, Sujit, emotionless and in shock leaned on to
me and remained with me for the next two days till his father’s body was
repatriated for funeral. My tributes and prayers to his soul, once again, while
posting this message here.
The connection we made during my short stay remains
everlasting and the little boy of that time has grown leaps and bounds and now a
self made enterprising individual as any one of us.
Sujit Sukumaran is now an established Toast Master in UAE.
Add a very good writer, a professional Resume Maker, a promoter of
vegetarianism and Indian culture along with a "no physical or personal
difficulties can hold me from moving on in my life attitude"; you will get a
picture of Sujit. Oops sorry, add one more precious quality - an eligible bachelor for those numerous young girls out there!!
I invite you to please
take a 30 minutes of free time from your life and read the two articles below and
carefully listen to what Sujit has to say in his 19.02 minutes video to the
world during his recent speech at TEDxAlAin 2012.
His is an inspiring story of exceptional courage, of triumph
over the most difficult challenges. It is also an outstanding example of what a
human being can achieve if he has the determination to succeed and the support
of devoted parents, dedicated doctors and helpful teachers and friends.
By Jyoti KalsiPublished for GULF NEWS December 7, 2002
Strong family and willpower have enabled Dubai resident
Sujit Sukumaran defeat cerebral palsy
His is an inspiring story of exceptional courage, of triumph
over the most difficult challenges. It is also an outstanding example of what a
human being can achieve if he has the determination to succeed and the support
of devoted parents, dedicated doctors and helpful teachers and friends.
Sujit Sukumaran weighed just one kilogram at birth. Oxygen
deficiency after birth resulted in cerebral palsy, leaving him with several
physical disabilities. He started crawling when he was 18 months old. He took
his first steps, on crutches, when he was four and was unable to walk without
support till the age of 12.
He has known the discomfort of daily physiotherapy since he
was nine months old and he has spent every school vacation in hospital
undergoing medical treatment.
Not only did he have to overcome physical challenges but he
also had to deal with the pain of losing his father at the tender age of 15.
Yet, today the young man of 17 strides confidently towards a bright future,
free from physical or emotional crutches.
"I prefer to count my blessings. Most cerebral palsy
patients have some amount of brain damage, but I am lucky that my brain is in
pristine condition," says Sujit.
Life has forced him to grow up quickly but he speaks about
his struggle without the slightest trace of self-consciousness or self-pity,
and a lot of humour. And a struggle it has indeed been.
Sujit's tryst with physiotherapy began at nine months.
"The stretching and bending was extremely painful and I remember that I
always went in crying, kicking and shouting all the way. But four years later I
was able to stand with the help of callipers. Today I am very grateful to the
physiotherapists at Al Wasl and Rashid Hospitals," he acknowledges.
Sujit's main sources of strength were his mother Ramani and
his father E. N. Sukumaran. "God gives special children to special parents
and whatever I am today, I owe to it my parents," he says. He was
particularly close to his father. "Dad was my friend, guide and mentor. He
was a self-made man with a very positive outlook. He always pushed me to aim
for the impossible and taught me that problems only exist because we create
them," reminisces Sujit.
His nursery school teachers recommended that he be sent to a
regular school. Sujit did well in the entrance exam of The Indian High School,
Dubai, and despite initial reservations, the school agreed to admit him.
"The happiest day of my life was the first day I went
to a regular school. With my callipers on and holding the hands of both my
parents I walked shakily into school, but this was my first step into a normal
life," states Sujit emphatically.
He strongly feels that regular schools should be open to
admitting students like him. "A special needs child can never be pushed to
improve in a special school environment however good it may be. Whatever I am
today is largely due to what Indian High School was able to do for me," he
insists.
A helper carried Sujit and his bag from the school bus to
his class everyday and his teachers were always encouraging.
"A major milestone for me was when in the fifth
standard a friend suggested that he would carry my bag instead of the helper
and others followed suit. I am fortunate to have such friends who do these
things for me with love," says Sujit, adding with a smile that the front
seat in the bus was always reserved for him.
Being in a regular school also had its share of problems and
disappointments. Children stared at him all the time. "When I asked dad
why they did that, he would explain that people stare at anything that is
different. They will stare at Aishwarya Rai also if they see her at close
quarters, he would say. And eventually it was their curiosity to know which
strange planet I came from that helped me to make friends with them," he
laughs.
Sujit felt particularly miserable when the class went out to
play. "I sat on my bench and watched them running around and felt really
angry. I would pray that someday I could join them and luckily for me, even
though it took 15 years, that prayer has been answered," he says happily.
His most disappointing experience was his first school
picnic to Mushrif Park. "Dad had given me money and told me to try all the
rides, but the teachers were too scared to let me go on them. So I just sat on
the grass and watched the others," he recalls sadly. But Sujit immediately
brightens up at the memory of his parents taking him back the same evening to
all the rides in the same park. "And recently I went to Wild Wadi with my
class and enjoyed the 80 foot Jumeirah Sceirah, one of the scariest rides in
the park," he says beaming with pride.
Big strides
While he made big strides academically and socially at
school, his medical treatment continued. Every morning before school he went
for two-hour physiotherapy sessions and there was some surgery scheduled during
every vacation.
The first operation, at the age of eight, was a dorsal rhizotomy
performed in Hyderabad, India, to treat his spasticity. In a
five-and-a-half-hour operation, the doctors opened his back and cut off a
series of nerve fibres from the spinal cord. "This was my first experience
with big time pain. The physiotherapy was just a trailer while this was the
movie," he jokes.
For 15 days he lay in hospital on his stomach and had to
stay in bed for two months. He could not sit and any movement was painful.
"The anticipation of a better future, prayer and my ability to make friends
with doctors, nurses and other patients is what kept me going," recalls
Sujit.
He finds a positive side even in this traumatic experience.
"The doctor gave me a set of books called the 'children's knowledge bank'.
This is what got me interested in reading and in quizzing. And though I still
had to wear calf splints, after this surgery I could walk better and the
spasticity reduced considerably," he reflects.
His 11th birthday was again spent in hospital. This time it
was to loosen his hamstrings. "Instead of cake, I got some chloroform.
Both my legs were in plaster for two months and the itching felt like there was
a swarm of ants in there," describes Sujit.
As usual he had read up everything he could about the
surgery and even watched part of it under local anesthesia. The physiotherapy
after the prolonged immobility was extremely painful once again.
"There is no gain without pain," he says
nonchalantly. "At least now I had total freedom of muscular movement. I
could touch my feet and tie my own shoe laces, though I still had to wear
support pads to protect the muscles," says Sujit with typical optimism. He
has yet another scar from a tendon lengthening operation done during yet
another vacation.
Around this time Sujit took part in a poetry recitation
contest. "The cruel remarks of some boys triggered the desire to prove
myself on stage. The confidence I gained led to participation in quiz contests
and other such competitions," he admits. He remembers with pride his first
stage experience as a compere at a variety show organised by the Al Wasl Ladies
Club for special needs children and their parents.
Best wishes Sujit, Good luck and keep travelling - you are an inspiring personality to all of us.
