Plane crash victims’ kin get jobs

By PMA RASHEED

The Gulf Today, 28 May 2010

An Abu Dhabi-based healthcare service provider has extended a helping hand to the bereaved relatives of the ill-fated passengers of the recent air crash that occurred at the Bajpe International Airport in South India’s Mangalore city.

About 50 relatives of the victims will be employed at Lifeline Hospital, headquartered in the capital Emirate of the UAE, as the hospital expands its operations with a couple of projects, including new hospitals and other healthcare facilities, announced the hospital authorities.

Speaking at a press conference in Dubai on Thursday, Dr Charles Stanford, the senior director of Lifeline Hospital, said that the purpose of recruiting the relatives of the passed away passengers in the plane disaster is to support the families that lost their sole bread-winners.

“Hopefully, the initiative will identify the tragedy-affected families plunged into substantial financial loss. We intend to sufficiently enable them to maintain a better standard of living in their community,” he added.

The hospital has also announced ten lakhs Indian Rupees for urgent assistance to the families of the victims.

“The first step of the initiative is to identify the individuals within such families who are willing and able to take up the offered employment opportunities. We will provide them professional training, if required,” explained Dr Stanford.

Dr Shajir Gaffar, the Corporate Relations Manager at Lifeline Hospital, said, “We have already requested the Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi to coordinate with the authorities concerned in India to identify the requirements and the numbers of individuals suitable for the scheme.”

“The appointments in the preferred job nature will be based on the educational levels, professional qualifications and experience profiles. The candidates also should be willing to travel outside India,” he added.

“The hospital, with plans to expand its operations in the UAE, Oman and India, will identify potential positions suitable to the details provided. These positions will be within the broad range of the healthcare organisation’s opportunities where suitable. If the applicant is not suitable for healthcare positions, we will arrange them opportunities in other organisations,” explained Dr Gaffar.

“The positions are on permanent basis and offered at the similar payment scheme to those already employed. All the appointed employees will have the same contractual rights as others in the industry,” he pointed out.

According to him, the Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) initiative will inspire other corporate groups to support the air crash victims.

“Lifeline wishes to make a tangible, substantive and sustainable contribution to the well-being of those dependent members of the victim’s families,” noted Dr Gaffar.