Saturday, June 28, 2008

The National June 1, 2008


A weekly radio show that imparts financial advice to Indian expatriates in the UAE is an essential service not being provided by anyone else. KV Shamsudheen, the host of the programme on Asianet, regularly receives phone calls from listeners that are literal cries for help. Many are so in debt that they are contemplating suicide.

Shamsudheen listens to their woes, gives them advice and tries to provide some much needed perspective and hope so that they can see light at the end of the dark tunnel. He says the problem usually begins when a worker's family back home spends every dirham sent to them, saving nothing. When the worker returns home, the family expects to continue living in the style to which they have become accustomed, forcing the provider to go abroad again.

This is a problem that affects workers here from all developing countries. As praiseworthy as Shamsudheen's efforts are, he cannot be a one-man advice bureau for every Indian living here; community groups should take it upon themselves to run financial literacy courses to help their nationals save for the day they return home for good. The Philippine community organises such courses run by accountants, and they are always packed. Other nationalities should follow their example.