By: Vandana Jhingan

Federation of Indian Associations of Chicago in partnership with the Consulate General of India office, Chicago organized an OCI camp at Manav Seva Mandir, Bensenville, Il on December 10, 2023. The camp was attended by more than 500 people of Indian descent families.

The camp had focused mainly on two issues faced by the Indian Diaspora – OCI Card and Passport issues. Consul General Hon. Mr. Somnath Ghosh was magnanimous enough to extend all the support from his office and more than six consulate staff members manned the inquiry and processing desk to answer and process the paperwork for OCI Cards.

The event, aimed at providing comprehensive assistance to the Indian Diaspora and OCI cardholders, witnessed enthusiastic participation from the community. The collaborative efforts between the Federation of Indian Associations and the Consulate General Chicago Office once more highlighted the commitment to fostering strong ties and enhancing support for the Indian community abroad.

The Consul General and VSF Representative expressed gratitude for the FIA initiative and the community’s active participation. They stated, “The OCI Camp reflects our ongoing commitment to providing essential services and support to the Indian Diaspora. We are grateful for the partnership with the Federation of Indian Associations, which has contributed to the success of this event.”

Dr Rashmi Patel, President of the Federation of Indian Associations Chicago remarked, “Collaborating with the Consulate General for this OCI Camp has been a significant step towards strengthening our community bonds. We look forward to more such initiatives that benefit the Indian Diaspora.”

Furthermore, Dr. Rashmi Patel extended his heartfelt appreciation to Manav Seva Mandir and its volunteers for allowing us to use their facility and resources for this event. He also thanked all the participants for their active involvement including appreciating the volunteering work done by the Women Empowering Group. He also thanked the youth empowering group for their excellent services.

Dr. Bhart Bhai Barai, community pillar, praised the super success of the camp and said that our community needs this type of camp at least twice a year. He appreciated the presence of the EC committee members Mr. Nitin Patel (Ex. VP), Mr. Vijendra Doma, and Dr. Hament Patel, who worked hard for the success of this event.

Dr. Patel thanked the media personnel from various media outlets for their presence at the camp. He also informed that to make this camp a success FIA provided 7 laptops 3 printers/scanners. Manish Jain and Aalap Patel provided Notary services throughout the day pro bono.