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The Indian Eye
NORTH AMERICAN Newsline AUGUST 21, 2026 20

Consulate General of India conducts

community consular service camp in Hicksville

NEERAJ DHAR
HICKSVILLE, NY
he Consulate General of India
(CGI), New York, conducted
Ta highly successful Commu-
nity Consular Service Camp at Pearl
Banquet Hall in Hicksville, bringing
essential consular services and direct
assistance closer to the community.
The camp was organized by the
American Punjabi Society (APS),
with support from the Rajasthan As-
sociation of North America (RANA),
BRUHUD New York Seniors, and
Jaipur Foot USA.
Although scheduled from 11:00
AM to 3:00 PM, people began lining up
as early as 10:00 AM, and CGI and VFS
personnel continued assisting attendees
until approximately 4:00 PM because
of the strong community response. matters were addressed, with 13 CGI
The reach of the camp extended and VFS officers and staff partici-
well beyond Long Island. Community pating. Forty APS youth volunteers,
members traveled from Massachusetts, ages 12 to 17, assisted throughout the
New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylva- camp, while two Notaries Public also
nia, and across New York specifically provided assistance.
to obtain consular services and assis- For many attendees, the value
tance. Particularly gratifying was that of the camp was not merely learning
those who traveled long distances were what they needed to do, but having ac-
able to have their concerns addressed cess to the appropriate CGI and VFS
and received the services, assistance, personnel who could review their con-
or guidance they had come seeking. cerns, provide direct assistance, and
help move their consular matters to-
Direct consular services ward resolution.
were the central focus
The camp went well beyond sim- Ambassador Pradhan
ply providing information. Its pri- emphasizes an open-door
mary purpose and most important Consulate
achievement was to bring actual con- Ambassador Binaya Srikanta sized the importance of approaching tives undertaken under Ambassador
sular services and direct assistance to Pradhan, Consul General of India the Consulate and authorized service Pradhan’s leadership to bring the
the community. in New York, addressed the gather- providers directly rather than rely- Consulate closer to the Indian dias-
CGI and VFS personnel assisted ing and emphasized the Consulate’s ing on questionable intermediaries. pora through direct communication,
attendees with matters involving Indi- open-door approach and commit- Also attending and actively par- outreach, emergency accessibility, and
an passports, Overseas Citizen of In- ment to accessible and responsive ticipating were Tsewang Gyaltson, community-based services. Sikka not-
dia (OCI) cards, visas, surrender cer- services for the Indian diaspora. Consul (Community Affairs), and ed that the camp demonstrated what
tificates, Police Clearance Certificates He spoke about the Consulate’s Shruti Pandey, Consul (CPV), along can be accomplished when the Con-
(PCC), document attestation, and availability, including emergency con- with other CGI officials and VFS sulate and community organizations
other consular services. Community sular assistance seven days a week, representatives. Altogether, 13 CGI work together to bring actual services
members were able to discuss their and encouraged community mem- and VFS officers and staff members closer to the people.
individual cases directly with knowl- bers to approach the Consulate and participated in the camp and worked Harry S. Bolla, Patron of APS, em-
edgeable personnel, clarify documen- authorized service channels directly directly with community members on phasized the importance of arranging
tation and procedural requirements, whenever they need consular services, their consular matters. such camps on a continuing basis. He
and receive assistance in addressing assistance, or clarification. noted that passport, OCI, visa, PCC,
and resolving their consular issues Ambassador Pradhan also cau- Community leaders praise the and related procedures can be difficult
wherever possible. tioned against unauthorized brokers, initiative to navigate, particularly for senior citi-
A total of 171 individuals regis- agents, and intermediaries who may Gary S. Sikka, Global President zens and those unfamiliar with chang-
tered, while 542 community members charge excessive fees and, in some cas- & CEO of APS, welcomed Ambas- ing online systems. Bolla said that
attended the camp. A total of 212 es, provide incorrect information or sador Pradhan and the Consular bringing knowledgeable CGI and VFS
consular inquiries and service-related fraudulent documentation. He empha- team and praised the special initia- Continued on next page... >>

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