Compensation for Mangalore air crash assured: Vayalar Ravi

Compensation for Mangalore air crash assured: Vayalar Ravi

Mangalore Today News Network

Dubai, January 27:  Dependents of the Air India crash victims may get a compensation of nearly Rs6.5 million or more for each life lost since the new Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi has promised to implement the provisions of an international convention when disbursing the final compensation.

According to the Montreal Convention which became effective in India on June 30, 2009, the compensation for the loss of life in an air crash is approximately $140,000. The compensation amount prior to the convention was $2,000.

The conditions of the Convention ideally have to be enforced while disbursing the compensations to the next of kin of the 158 people who died in the Mangalore crash on May 22, 2010. Other provisions also allow dependents to legally fight for more compensation if the accident was caused by the airline’s mistake.

However, the families of the victims, most of who used to live in the UAE, had raised apprehensions that they may not receive this amount since they were reportedly told that the final compensation would be calculated based on the income of each deceased.

Ravi, who had voiced his support to the crash victims’ families in getting their due compensation on time, in his capacity as the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, on Wednesday promised that he would continue to assist them in his new ministry, as well.

“I fully assure you that if there is any such allegation or instance that (conditions of) Montreal (Convention) are not followed, I will see (to it) that it is implemented,” he said in reply to a question by Khaleej Times on how he would support the victims’ kin with his additional portfolio.

At a Press conference in Dubai, Ravi acknowledged that there was a ‘dispute’ over the compensation because of the stance taken by the insurance company involved. However, he said the way to resolve it was yet to be discussed, though he had already enquired the details with his ministerial staff.

“This is a heart burning issue for many families ... I know. In many families, poor people have died ... The issue is something which needs a little more efforts (to solve it),” he said.

Later in the evening, he met about 50 relatives of the crash victims including women and children, at the Indian Consulate in Dubai. Explaining their current plight, they submitted fresh requests and memoranda asking the minister to speed up the procedures to compensate them in a justified and dignified manner.

He assured them that there is no question of denying their rightful compensation. Earlier, the minister told reporters that he would bring out the final report on the investigation into the cause of the crash ‘with transparency.’ However, he did not give a time frame.

Reiterating that his priority is to streamline the services and safety of Air India and improve the performance of Air India Express in the Gulf sector, Ravi said he would also address the complaints related to the booking system of the budget airline and allow adequate seats to low-income workers. He said the ministry had made elaborate discussions on aviation safety and would continue to improve it in whatever way possible.

Mangalore crash report to be out soon; Ravi promises to streamline emigration

INDIA’s Ministry of Civil Aviation may soon release the full investigation report of Air India Express’ flight crash in Mangalore, India in May 2010, revealing reasons that caused the accident that killed 162 passengers and crew members.

The newly-appointed Minister of Civil Aviation Vayalar Ravi told media in Dubai on Wednesday that his ministry is all for transparency, adding that he has no reservation on making the report public.

However, he refused to give any specific deadline.

According to media reports, the final report on the crash submitted to the Civil Aviation Ministry concluded that the crash was caused by pilot error.

Ravi, who is also Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, disclosed that his ministry has proposed to launch an Emigration Management Authority (EMA) with the aim of streamlining the emigration process.

He said that the proposal, which will go to the Indian cabinet and Parliament for approval, will help make the emigration clearance simpler and more transparent. It also aims to tighten the noose against those unscrupulous agents who dupe people seeking to go abroad. Upon approval, the EMA will replace the existing Protector General of Emigrants and will create a user-friendly online system to ensure hassle-free emigration.

When asked about the much-awaited launch of the Web-based attestation process for recruitment of skilled and unskilled persons of India, the minister said it will be introduced for the recruitment of Indian workers in UAE first and it will be implemented to other countries of Gulf, subsequently.

Earlier, he visited Indian Workers Resource Centre in Dubai, which was inaugurated by President of India Pratibha Devisingh Patil during her visit to the UAE in November 2010. He expressed satisfaction over its work so far.

On Tuesday, Ravi met UAE Labour Minister Saqr Ghobash in Abu Dhabi and discussed the issue of updating the MoU on labour between India and UAE. The minister said that India is inclined to incorporate the pro-labour changes suggested by UAE minister. He also invited the UAE labour minister to visit India where the new MoU is likely to be signed after the UAE cabinet’s approval.

Gulftoday, gulfnews