After months-long efforts, the Royal Nepalese embassy in Doha has established a ‘Nepali Expatriate Benevolent Fund (NEBF),’ to help Nepali workers in need.
”The fund aims to help Nepalese in distress in Qatar,” The Gulf Times daily quoted ambassador Shyamananda Suman as saying.
Assistance could include lodging, food, air tickets, and court fees.
There are an estimated 80,000 Nepalis in Qatar and a majority of them are low-paid, unskilled workers. Many of them get their wages after months of delay, some never get paid while many others do not have their residence permits stamped.
Some of these cases end up in the court but often the labourers find it hard to pay the court fee of QR300, the newspaper report said.
The embassy has just opened a dedicated NEBF account at the C Ring Road branch of Doha Bank. Its number is 2152583201100.
The ambassador appealed to “philanthropists of all nationalities, who are in a position to help”, to contribute to the fund. “They can directly deposit money in the account.”
The account will be managed by a committee of community representatives and an embassy official. The fund, which will function under the patronage of the ambassador, will be run by a board of officials, to be elected from amongst fund members.
“We have heard that the Indian Community Benevolent Fund is running very successfully and we would like to contact them to learn how they administer it,” the ambassador said.
The embassy had already organised a meeting of community elders and a constitution is being drawn up, he added.
According to the Nepali envoy, scores of Nepalese have to be provided with food since their employers do not pay them in time. Some of them need accommodation as well. The embassy’s resources are insufficient to provide all these services, he said.
The fund also plans to organise various functions, including picnics, to raise money.
Suman reiterated that the fund would need the generosity of everyone, including other nationals and their associations, to make it effective since most Nepalis were unable to spare much cash.