Make a Difference

"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind... let it be something good."

Whats the purpose of having a Consulate ?

This morning, my Director and I had to visit the Indian Consulate in Dubai for an attestation. The primary purpose of having an embassy or consulate in a foreign country is to assist its nationals—but it seems like the staff working there often forget that responsibility. While we understand the need for rules and regulations, especially considering security risks, the way these guidelines are communicated matters. Unfortunately, the staff seemed poorly equipped to convey clear instructions to Indian citizens seeking help. The most common responses we heard were: "I am not sure," "I don't know," or "Check with the India office." Their reluctance to take responsibility only adds to the frustration and forces people to run from pillar to post. What struck me even more was how poorly they treated people who didn’t appear affluent. I noticed an elderly man, likely unaware of the process, approach a staff member to renew his passport. Instead of explaining the procedure patiently, the staff bombarded him with questions like, "Why this copy? Why not another?"—as if it would be too difficult to simply clarify what documents he needed. This was only our second visit, and who knows how many more will follow! Despite our Head Office corresponding with Indian officials for over a month, we left after two and a half hours—without accomplishing anything. Now, the matter has been redirected to the Tamil Nadu Home Department. It’s frustrating to witness the indifferent attitude of our own Indian officials. What’s missing here is a sense of responsibility—and frankly, they need proper training to understand their role and the fundamental purpose of a consulate: to serve and assist their citizens.