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Combating coronavirus: Dubai-based Indian businessman to charter free flight for distressed expats

Dubai - He has also given his employees the option to work in one of his plants in Coimbatore.

A Dubai-based businessman has chartered a flight from Sharjah to Kochi in Kerala to send back his employees for free.
A total of 125 employees will be repatriated on an Air Arabia aircraft carrying 168 passengers to India on June 15, according to R Harikumar, managing director of Elite Group of Companies.
"There will be 168 passengers. The remaining passengers will be identified by the All Kerala College Alumni Forum (Akcaf) Covid-19 task force," Harikumar told Khaleej Times.
Along with free air tickets, the passengers will also be provided PPE kits including face masks, gloves, face shield, protective overalls, and hand sanitisers. "I have received state government approvals for the upcoming flight and is now awaiting permissions from Indian central government," he said.
Harikumar is also considering chartering a second flight. "I am trying to arrange around 300 air tickets, wherein I pay for 70 per cent of the flight ticket expenses."
Harikumar said all his employees will be paid one-month leave salary. "I am sending them on a three-month vacation. I will also arrange for their return when the situation normalises. If they are facing financial difficulties back home, I will support them as well," he added.
He has also given his employees the option to work in one of his plants in Coimbatore. "However, that is entirely optional. If they wish to work, arrangements will be made for them. My staff have been working with me for over 15 years. They are my backbone. Everything I am today is thanks to them," he added.
Other passengers ready
"Forty passengers have been identified to fly in the charter flight arranged by R Harikumar," said VS Biju Kumar, general secretary of AKCAF task force. "We are also in the process of distributing 400 tickets for distressed Indians. We have plans to charter three flights back home," he added.
The group has been trying to spread awareness about the free air ticket facilities through all media channels. "The passengers we have selected for travel are severely distressed, many of them not in a position to survive here," said Kumar.
Ackaf has also been responsible for assisting the Consulate-General of India in Dubai with making calls and identifying passengers who wish to travel. "A five-member team is working there every day from 8am to 8pm," said Kumar.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com