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Title: Need to withdraw the hike in air tariff on Gulf Sector during Festival season.
SHRIMATI P. SATHEEDEVI (BADAGARA): Sir, I would like to draw the attention of this august House regarding the recent enhancement of airfare to Gulf sector by the airline companies. The hike in the airfare has very badly affected the NRIs, who are traveling to and fro to Gulf countries during the festival season of Onam, specially in Kerala. They are getting the opportunity to be with their families occasionally, and usually it is during the festival season of Onam, that the poor NRIs who are employed in Gulf countries are coming to their native places.
Considering the situation that the passengers to and fro would be 10 times higher than the usual time, the airline companies are enhancing the airfare. This approach was there during the previous year also. This unscrupulous approach of squeezing the poor labours working in the Gulf countries should be stopped. Last year, the airline companies even declared a hike in the airfare during the period of Haj pilgrimage. This approach should be stopped. Actually, there is an enhancement of Rs. 2000 to Rs. 4000 per head.
MR. DEPUTY-SPEAKER: What is your demand?
SHRIMATI P. SATHEEDEVI : Hence I urge upon the Government of India, especially the Ministry of Civil Aviation to direct the companies to withdraw the enhanced airfare to the Gulf sector.[r78]