Representational
The heart touching story of an Indian family of seven, which was "living like prisoners" in the UAE, has led to several people coming forward with job offers. The Indian mission has also offered assistance.
On Friday, officials of India's Consulate in Dubai approached the family in Sharjah. They offered them help in "documentation as requested by the family", said Sumathi Vasudev, Consul (consular and labour) and Acting Consul-General of the Indian Consulate General in Dubai.
Madhusudhanan, (60) from Kerala and his Sri Lankan wife Rohini (55) had claimed to be "living like prisoners" in Sharjah. They sought help from the UAE government to legalise their residency status fearing arrest and deportation.
Their four daughters - Ashwathy, 29, Sangeetha, 25, Shanthi, 23, Gauri, 22 - and one son, Mithun, 21, have never been to school in their lifetime. They all are unemployed and live in a dilapidated two-bedroom house in Sharjah.
In 1979, Madhusudhanan came to the UAE as a worker and married Rohini. All the children have been home-schooled by their mother.
When asked why he did not want to leave the country by availing the general amnesty declared in 2003, 2007 and 2013, Madhusudhanan had said he did not want to split his family.
The couple said they hope to legalise their status and enroll children in some vocational courses as they have lived in the UAE for nearly four decades.
(With PTI inputs)
