Interviews

A Pillar of Support

by BTM

Wed, 07 August 2024

A Pillar of Support

The Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF) was established in 1999 by the Embassy of India in Bahrain with the mission of ensuring the welfare of Indian workers in the region. Since its inception, the initiative has focused on serving the less fortunate members of the Indian community. Kristian Harrison spoke with ICRF Chairman, Dr. Babu Ramachandran, about how the organisation supports those who are less fortunate with a team of more than 300 volunteers.

Dr. Ramachandran’s involvement with ICRF stems from his long-standing commitment to community outreach. “I was drawn to ICRF’s selfless service and integrated into the organisation, believing in the power of teamwork over individual efforts,” he states. 

Despite Bahrain being a welcoming place for Indian expatriates, several challenges persist. These include Indians being misled by false promises and living without proper legal visas, individuals living beyond their means leading to debt traps despite awareness campaigns, health neglect resulting in chronic diseases and depression and mental health issues due to isolation from family. 

“The ICRF tackles these issues through various programmes,” Dr. Ramachandran explains. “Our medical camps, for instance, identify and manage chronic diseases among Indian workers, and our 24/7 helplines provide visa assistance, distress support for housemaids and counselling services. The ICRF mortuary assist team also facilitates the repatriation of mortal remains.” 

“We have had a number of success stories, even recently. For instance, an indebted Indian with a debilitating disease received assistance from philanthropists and authorities, leading to his recovery and return home. Additionally, a woman without birth certificates for her children was successfully sent back to India with the help of ICRF volunteers, the Indian Embassy and local authorities,” he states. 

ICRF operates inclusively, allowing any Indian to volunteer without regional, linguistic or ethnic restrictions. The organisation works closely with the Embassy of India, especially in supporting stranded workers and housemaids in need of temporary shelter. For example, in a recent fire tragedy in Manama, ICRF coordinated with the Embassy and other associations to provide necessary assistance. 

One of the ICRF’s most important facilities are its medical camps, with more than 160 conducted so far, benefiting thousands of individuals. During the Covid-19 pandemic, they provided dry food rations, air tickets, face masks, antibacterial soaps and awareness flyers to underprivileged Indian workers. Other services include hospital and mortuary visits, immigration support, visits to labour camps and financial assistance for medical treatments and repatriation. 

“All year round, we run numerous vital programmes,” Dr. Ramachandran reveals. “Firstly, our Thirst-Quenchers programme raises summer health and safety awareness while distributing bottled water and fruits to workers. We are also running Gatekeeper Trainings under the banner of ICRF-LIFE (Listen, Involve, Foster, Engage) to train volunteers to identify and intervene in suicide risks and provide mental health support. Finally, the Family Relief Fund offers financial assistance to dependents of deceased workers, having distributed more than BD270,000 to more than 600 families.” 

ICRF functional team on the occasion of the release of the ICRF 25th year celebrations logo.
ICRF functional team on the occasion of the release of the ICRF 25th year celebrations logo. 

As ICRF celebrates its Silver Jubilee, Dr. Ramachandran envisions continued growth and outreach in the future. He acknowledges the contributions of past leaders and emphasises that “every day is a day of evolvement” for ICRF to better serve the Indian community in Bahrain. 

“As a final note, I must extend my deepest gratitude to the volunteers, the Bahraini government, the Indian Embassy and our sponsors for their unwavering support,” he concludes. “We stand on the shoulders of these iconic community leaders.”

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