Telangana family stranded in Bahrain reunites after birth certificate ordeal

A Telangana woman and her two daughters, stranded in Bahrain due to visa overstay and the absence of a birth certificate for the younger child, finally returned to Hyderabad after intervention by the Indian Embassy, MHA and expatriate support organisations.

Dubai: The birth or death certificate is an essential document for Indians, whether at home or abroad; any negligence in obtaining it can lead to prolonged legal complications and devastating effects.

The case of a Telangana family being caught in unforeseen legal woes due to a lack of a birth certificate and financial difficulties in Bahrain has exemplified complex issues that some families experience in the Gulf region.

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A woman and her two daughters, aged 15 and 8 years, were stranded in the country due to a lack of an identification process and nationality proof. Now they have finally left the country to reunite with their family back home in India.

An NRI from Kamareddy district was running a business in Bahrain, and he brought his wife and a daughter on a three-month visit visa to Bahrain in 2017. Since then, they have remained in the country even after the expiration of their visa.

The family was blessed with a baby girl in 2018, and she was born in a local hospital in Bahrain. The father failed to register the birth of the child at the Indian Embassy. As a result, the child remained an undocumented one and officially non- existant.

The NRI’s business venture faced several challenges. Mounting financial difficulties led to multiple legal cases related to rent and business liabilities, compounding his hardship further, even without the formal schooling of his children.

Sometime ago, the NRI was arrested and deported to India, and he had to leave his wife and children behind. With sudden development, the distraught woman and her two children ran from pillar to post for help to meet their basic needs, including food and shelter. Her efforts to return home in India to reunite with their family were almost futile.

The repatriation of the family was delayed not only due to the expiration of their visa but also because the second child, who was born in Bahrain, did not have a birth certificate or any other official document.

The Indian Embassy has referred the application for birth registration to the Ministry of Home Affairs in New Delhi since the family applied for a certificate beyond the stipulated time. According to Indian Citizenship Act, a child born abroad to Indian citizens can claim citizenship by descent only if the birth is registered at the Indian embassy within a year; if not, it requires the approval of Ministry of Home Affairs in India.

The formal registration of birth was completed following due process, and a passport was issued to the girl. The penalty fine for overstaying for the family is paid with the help of the embassy.

The Indian Embassy, along with ICRF and an expat organisation, Telugu Kala Samiti, supported the family during their challenging times. Finally, the woman and her daughters left for Hyderabad on Saturday to reunite their family.