Legal aid helped; two youths returned home

Sharjah: Two Malayali youths who were facing a crisis in their expatriate life have returned home. Prajil Kumar (37), a native of Kasaragod Kamballur, and Ajeesh Pushkaran (44), a native of Varkala, who were having difficulty getting a visitor visa while looking for work, were helped by the Global Pravasi Association, a leading organization in the UAE.

The two had come to the UAE on a visitor visa in search of work. Both were living in Sharjah without proper food and accommodation. Ajeesh arrived in the UAE on a visitor visa on October 5, 2019, as promised by his friend, a native of Venjaramood in Dubai. As per the company's instructions to provide a replacement to leave the company that was not paying him the correct salary, he took Ajeesh to the company where he was working and then cancelled his visa and returned home. After that, Ajeesh worked in that company for several months but did not receive the correct salary. Meanwhile, he lost his job and was admitted to Rashidiya Hospital after falling from his residence and injuring himself. This is where Ajeesh and Prajil met.

Prajil arrived in the UAE on a visitor visa on February 19 in search of work. When he developed a mild sore throat and cold at his residence, he thought he had coronavirus and tried to commit suicide by jumping off the third floor of his residential building in Dera Naif on March 4. The suicide attempt was foiled when his roommates saw him. The police were immediately informed and he was taken to Rashid Hospital for treatment for depression. A case was registered against Prajil for attempting suicide, and his passport was taken into the custody of the Dubai Police. With this, he was unable to return home. When both of them were in a complete crisis, not knowing what to do next, the Global Pravasi Association came to their aid.

Upon learning of the helplessness of Ajeesh and Prajil, Salam Pappinissery, a legal representative in the UAE, a social activist, and the chairman of the Global Pravasi Association, and under his leadership, the office bearers of the Global Pravasi Association, K.T.P. Ibrahim, Adv. Shankar Narayanan, Farsana Jabbar, Mansoor E.M. Azhikode, Munnthir Kalpakanchery, Yahiya Kannur, and others, immediately visited the Rashidiya Hospital in Dubai and inquired about the problems of the two. Salam Pappinissery then got the two discharged from the hospital, accommodated them in a hotel in Sharjah at his own expense, and arranged all the basic facilities they needed, including food and clothing. He then contacted the Indian Consulate and obtained a temporary passport from the Indian Consulate to obtain an out-pass to return home. The case against Prajil Kumar in Dubai for suicide was also dropped due to his intervention. Salam Pappinissery provided the air tickets, travel expenses, and essential supplies for both of them.