After over a decade of relentless efforts, I am thrilled to announce that we have successfully resolved the long-standing issue related to sending mortal remains to India from abroad. This major improvement will significantly benefit the entire Indian community living overseas.
In the past, the process of repatriating mortal remains was cumbersome and emotionally taxing for the families of the deceased. It involved obtaining five original documents – the passport, death certificate, non-communicable disease certificate, transit permit, and embalmer’s affidavit – from various sources. After that, we had to approach the Indian Embassy to obtain a No Objection Certificate and an attestation of the Death Certificate. Only then could the funeral home send copies of all these documents to the airlines, which would further submit them to the Airport Health Organization (APHO) of the Government of India. The process of obtaining APHO approval alone was taking anywhere from minutes to three days.
Recognizing the challenges faced by the affected families, I proposed significant changes to streamline and simplify this process. With the support of the Indian Embassy and the Ministry of Health, they successfully implemented these changes, making the process much more transparent and efficient.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to The Honorable Minister of Health, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Mr. Lav Agarwal, IAS, Dr. Senthilnathan, Hon. Ambassador Mr. Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Mr. Randhir Jaiswal, Mr. Sandeep Chakravorty, and Dr. Varu Jeph for their invaluable support in bringing about these improvements.
I also want to extend my gratitude to the dedicated volunteers of TEAM Aid (www.teamaid.org) and our 100+ partnering Indian ethnic organizations, who have been working tirelessly to assist thousands of Indian families affected by the sudden loss of their loved ones. Together, we are sending one or more mortal remains every day to India, from Nagaland to Goa, from Uttaranchal to Trivandrum, and even to 15 other countries.
The success of this endeavor would not have been possible without the collaboration and cooperation of our volunteers and partner organizations, as well as the Indian embassies.
This accomplishment fills me with immense pride and happiness, knowing that we have made a significant difference in the lives of countless families. With the new and improved process in place, we can continue to serve our community with even greater efficiency and compassion.
— Mohan Nannapaneni
https://m.timesofindia.com/india/portal-to-ease-bringing-home-mortal-remains-from-abroad/articleshow/102368106.cms
https://www.livemint.com/news/india/govt-to-launch-e-care-portal-for-seamless-transfer-of-mortal-remains-of-indian-citizens-from-aboard-11690987295987.html
https://hindustannewshub.com/india-news/launching-a-portal-for-effortless-transfer-of-deceased-indians-abroad-centre-announces/
