Consular Fee Hike Reports False, Says Indian Embassy
In a statement issued on Thursday, the embassy clarified, 'There has been no increase in the fees for various consular services rendered in Bahrain as claimed.
' It urged all parties to avoid spreading unverified or speculative information, warning that such reports could cause inconvenience to the Indian community and affect the efficient delivery of services.
Meanwhile, Pravasi Legal Cell (PLC), the non-governmental organisation that filed a representation to India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) over the alleged proposal, said it has not yet received a response from the ministry.
The controversy stemmed from media reports, including a column published in the Delhi edition of The Pioneer on February 24th by senior journalist BK Jha.
Titled 'Steep hike in passport & visa services abroad: A big blow to blue-collar workers', the article highlighted concerns over the alleged fee increase.
A separate report in The Times of India on February 25th by Ch Sushil Rao, titled 'MEA urged to roll back Gulf consular service fee hike', cited migrant rights activist Bheem Reddy Mandha and former MLA Anil Eravathri, who both expressed concerns about the impact of the reported fee hike on Indian expatriates.
Bheem Reddy Mandha told TDT that outsourcing contracts for consular services are being renewed in 29 countries, including the GCC.
He stated that there is an assumption that the fees for consular services may be increased, and no published MEA proposal exists on this.
Nevertheless, the issue will be raised through MPs in the upcoming session of the Indian parliament to get a clarification from the MEA on whether the fees will be increased or not, he said.
Meanwhile, KC Venugopal, a senior leader of India's Opposition party Indian National Congress, has called on the MEA to clarify. In a post on X, he stated, 'A vast majority of our NRI brothers and sisters live paycheck to paycheck, so that they can send most of their earnings back home.
The latest RFP for Consular, Passport and Visa services (CPV) at Indian missions abroad will impose a massive burden on these workers and appears designed to benefit private service providers.'
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