Doha Time
Doha, Jul 30: Expatriate organisation Indian Cultural and Arts Society (Incas) has sought the intervention of the Ministry of Overseas Indians Affairs to lift the ban on export of parboiled rice from India.
The forum has written a letter to the minister of Overseas Indians Affairs Vayalar Ravi in view of the massive rise in the prices of all varieties of rice in the GCC countries since the beginning of this year.
India has imposed a ban on the export of all varieties of rice and selected varieties of basmati since January this year, following a massive rise in India's domestic demand. Since then, the rice prices in the Gulf region have shot up sharply.
In the letter, the Doha-based forum pointed out that the unprecedented hike in the rice prices had put Asian expatriates, especially those from India in considerable hardship.
“In view of the predicament being faced by the expatriates, in particular Indian nationals, we seek your personal intervention to lift the ban on the export of parboiled rice, at least to destinations in the GCC region,” Incas said.
It also said that more than 3mn Indian expatriates reside in the six GCC States.
The organisation has also pointed out that Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala, is scheduled for early September and the government of India should accord top priority to the interests of the Keralites in the region during the period.