Billionaire Punjabi In Dubai Charters Private Jets To Help Stranded Indians Return Home

by Vaishnavi Venkataraman
Billionaire Punjabi In Dubai Charters Private Jets To Help Stranded Indians Return Home

The pandemic has shaken people worldwide and left us with a new normal. However, if there’s one thing to be thankful for during these uncertain times, it has to be humanity. Human begins across the world have stepped forward to do their bit to help the situation. While healthcare workers are the true heroes of this pandemic, there are a few others who have done noble deeds.

One such man is Surinder Pal Singh Oberoi, a billionaire Punjabi in Dubai who has taken charity to new heights. In fact, the UAE government also recognized his work and honored him with a 10-year Gold Card. Oberoi is hands on in helping workers and tourists who have been stuck in the UAE due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Also read about this 99-Yr Old-‘Phuppi’ From Mumbai Who Prepares Food For Migrants.

How Is Surinder Helping People?

Surinder has virtually launched chartered flights to bring distressed compatriots back. Earlier this week, 177 people returned to Chandigarh and reunited with their families. Besides, three more flights are lined up for this month, followed by four in August. Oberoi said the repatriate flights are specifically for low-income workers who have lost their jobs and are running out of money. This also included stranded Indians who came to the country for a vacation, on a budget.

For the next month”s flights, we have sought a list of stranded people from Indian Missions in the UAE. All flights will take off from the Ras Al Khaimah Airport,” Oberoi said. On that note, Bhaijaans Biryani- A Pakistani Restaurant In Dubai Is Offering FREE Food For Healthcare Workers.

Pregnant women, old, sick and families are given priority. The next line up of scheduled Spicejet flights will carry 177 passengers, on July 13, 19 and 25. Each flight costs between 40-42 lakhs, and this is taken care by Oberoi’s Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust. Oberoi also added that over 75-80 per cent of the people boarding these specially arranged flights are those who are literally left homeless and penniless. Oberoi has also provided shelter homes for them to stay until they are repatriated.

“Five to seven per cent people who travelling in our flights are the stranded tourists who can”t afford to buy the ticket at full price. Then we have passengers who have capacity to bear 10-40 per cent of the ticket cost. Also the airfare of a few travellers is borne by their employers,” he said.

Oberoi’s Humble Years In Dubai

Oberoi came to Dubai when he was 20. He kick started his career as a mechanic in 1977 and then launched his own business in Dubai in 1993. Today, he is well known for charity work. His trust is also known to help people across the UAE. Over 80 people, including a woman from Punjab who was sold as domestic help in Oman have been rescued by the trust. In 2013, the trust had also paid millions to release 17 Indians who were on death row for killing a Pakistani man in the UAE.

Besides, UAE’s spirit has also encouraged him to be a philanthropist. The Sarbat Da Bhala Charitable Trust distributes free food to 60,000 families per month in Punjab and neighbouring states that have been affected during the pandemic. In addition, the trust is also providing ration kits that will sustain at least five members in every family until September.

Meanwhile, Chef Vikas Khanna Distributed 100,000 Kgs Of Supplies Among Dabbawalas of Mumbai.