Chandy to Take Up With Govt Mideast Job Attestation Issue

TRIVANDRUM, 19 June 2005 — Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy sees red in the center’s proposal of all job contracts from the Middle East requiring compulsory attestation by Indian embassies beginning July 1.

“This is a tricky situation as on the one hand when we are trying to rein in fraudulent recruiting agencies, but at the same time we want to ensure that genuine people going to the Middle East for jobs should not encounter problems,” Chandy said.

“If this becomes mandatory then a lot of potential job seekers from here could get affected. I will take up this issue with the Ministry of External Affairs,” he said.

The existing rules require that attestation is needed only for employment contracts for the unskilled category. However, the current rule lapses on June 30. To make the overseas recruitment transparent, the center, on two occasions earlier this year, had asked all emigration officers to see that attestation be made applicable to all those proceeding abroad.

However, following pressure from several quarters that this could be a deterrent to job seekers, the rule was relaxed.

Air-India Links Calcutta to London

A thrice a week Air-India flight from Delhi to London via Dhaka and Calcutta took off from here Calcutta yesterday in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel and West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. A long-standing demand of the city for a direct connection to London, the flight would operate Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The Boeing 777 aircraft being used would offer 12 first class, 49 executive class and 211 economy class seats. Buddhadeb sought Praful’s help to modernize the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport besides starting more direct flights to international cities. “I kept writing to the ministry for more flights, and I am sorry to say there is a strong feeling here that Calcutta is neglected by the Civil Aviation Ministry,” he said.

“Owing to the increase in trade, Calcutta must have more direct flights with China and European cities such as Paris and Frankfurt.”