Repatriation of bodies

I would like to bring to the attention of the Indian government the issue of repatriating bodies of Indian nationals who pass away in foreign lands. It is an important humanitarian issue and our government should take all possible measures to ensure smooth service to our countrymen living abroad particularly in the GCC countries.
The current procedures are too complicated and take a lot of time. It only adds to the agony of those who lose their loved ones and are left at the mercy of officials of host countries and the Indian consulates and embassies. The Indian government should devise an effective mechanism to ensure speedy repatriation of the mortal remains of the Indian nations.
Qatar has done a great job by opening a Humanitarian Services Office to expedite repatriation of the bodies of those who die in Qatar to their home countries. It is a one-window system and has eased the formalities for the process. It has reduced the entire process into a few-hour formality, which is very commendable.
The Indian government should take this issue very seriously and instruct all Indian embassies in the Gulf countries to work on a similar mechanism. — Ramesh G. Jethwani, Bangalore