KOCHI: Ekta Pravasi, an organisation of Indian expatriates, will stage a one-day hunger strike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on April 4, to bring the issues of expatriates to the notice of the austerities.
The hunger strike will be staged by Ekta Pravasi leader K V Rajagopal from 9 am to 5 pm.
The main demands of the organisation include a data bank of expatriates, free transportation of dead bodies to India in case of death, regulation of recruitment agencies, release of Indians languishing in foreign jails even after completion of sentence, regulation of school fees by the Indian Embassy, insurance for expatriates, tax exemption for the household equipment brought by labourers working in GCC countries, voting right for expatriates and measures to end exploitation of travellers by airline companies.
“The practice of charging huge amounts for transportation of dead body is nothing but violation of human rights by airline companies," said Ekta Pravasi national chairman Rahim Olavakkode here on Tuesday.
"The average cost of transporting dead body from the Gulf is AED5,000 (around `91,000). All countries, except India, extend support to the relatives of deceased for bringing dead body,” he added.
The organisation is also planning to conduct a campaign rally from Kasargod to Kanyakumari, led by its president Sadique Kondotty.