Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF) will hold today the 5th session Legal Clinic for Indian expatriates at ICBF Office at Integrated Indian Community Centre (IICC) premises behind Teyseer Petrol Station, Al Thumama. “The Clinic, which provides legal counselling to needy people and guide them with the legal process in Qatar free of cost, will run from 5pm to 8pm,” President of ICBF P N Babu Rajan told Doha Today.
He said that lawyers from registered legal firms in Qatar are invited for counselling on many issues such as legal problem related to labour issues, rent dispute among many more at the Legal Clinic.
“Everyone cannot afford the service charges of legal firms in Qatar. Therefore, ICBF launched the initiative to support needy people,” said Babu Rajan.
He said that about 50 individuals benefit from a session of Legal Clinic. “So far we have held four sessions benefitting about 180 people and the fifth session will be organised today,” said Babu Rajan.
He said that the Legal Clinic was launched as many of the Indian citizens ended up in trouble due to ignorance of the Qatari Law. “The Legal Clinic would provide preliminary support to the needy and guide them with the legal process in Qatar,” said Babu Rajan.
He said that clinic has helped in creating awareness about the legal aspects which an expatriate needs to follow while working in Qatar. Since October 2019, Legal Clinic has been held once every month on the third Thursday of the month.
“The community members who wanted legal help could walk in on the designated day and meet the legal team who would provide counselling and advice on the course of action to be taken for free,” said Babu Rajan.
He said that in addition to the legal support of the community members, a support service to the Indian citizens who are in Jail has also been provided on a case to case basis.
ICBF, the apex body of Indian expatriate organisations under the patronage of Embassy of India, had inaugurated the Legal Clinic on October 5, 2019. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed in this regard with Kochery and Partners represented by Advocate Dr. Nizar Kochery, who is well known among the Indian Community, and ICBF represented by the President, P N Babu Rajan.
In addition to the legal advice, a 30 minute awareness session on various topics such as Employment Contracts, Gratuity, is handled by Dr. Nizar Kochery for the benefit of the community members.
The pre-registration for the Legal Clinic can be done at the ICBF office in the IICC premises. An awareness session for 30 minutes on the topic ‘Gratuity’, for the Indian Community members, will be also held today at the Al Muftah Hall, IICC Complex.
Members of the Indian community are requested to attend the session. Babu Rajan urged Indian expatriates to share the information of the services of ICBF, especially legal clinic to the needy people. He said that registration forms are available at the IICC Helpdesk.
ICBF is carrying out its task in a completely selfless, non-profit oriented and philanthropic manner to help the needy and the working class from the community.
The ICBF offers minor assistance and food ration to the stranded or other deserving persons. It also arranges free medical cards for the deserving cases, financial assistance towards medical treatment for life threatening diseases at local hospitals. ICBF office at the Indian Embassy premises provides prompt assistance deserving persons at right juncture of their need.
