Our Bureau
Hicksville, NY
The Consulate General of India (CGI), New York, conducted a highly successful Community 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 Association 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.
The reach of the camp extended well beyond Long Island. Community members traveled from Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and across New York specifically to obtain consular services and assistance. Particularly gratifying was that those who traveled long distances were able to have their concerns addressed and received the services, assistance, or guidance they had come seeking.
Direct consular services were the central focus
The camp went well beyond simply providing information. Its primary purpose and most important achievement was to bring actual consular services and direct assistance to the community.
CGI and VFS personnel assisted attendees with matters involving Indian passports, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, visas, surrender certificates, Police Clearance Certificates (PCC), document attestation, and other consular services. Community members were able to discuss their individual cases directly with knowledgeable personnel, clarify documentation and procedural requirements, and receive assistance in addressing and resolving their consular issues wherever possible.
A total of 171 individuals registered, while 542 community members attended the camp. A total of 212 consular inquiries and service-related matters were addressed, with 13 CGI and VFS officers and staff participating. Forty APS youth volunteers, ages 12 to 17, assisted throughout the camp, while two Notaries Public also provided assistance.
For many attendees, the value of the camp was not merely learning what they needed to do, but having access to the appropriate CGI and VFS personnel who could review their concerns, provide direct assistance, and help move their consular matters toward resolution.
Ambassador Pradhan emphasizes an open-door Consulate
Ambassador Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, Consul General of India in New York, addressed the gathering and emphasized the Consulate’s open-door approach and commitment to accessible and responsive services for the Indian diaspora.
He spoke about the Consulate’s availability, including emergency consular assistance seven days a week, and encouraged community members to approach the Consulate and authorized service channels directly whenever they need consular services, assistance, or clarification.
Ambassador Pradhan also cautioned against unauthorized brokers, agents, and intermediaries who may charge excessive fees and, in some cases, provide incorrect information or fraudulent documentation. He emphasized the importance of approaching the Consulate and authorized service providers directly rather than relying on questionable intermediaries.
Also attending and actively participating were Tsewang Gyaltson, Consul (Community Affairs), and Shruti Pandey, Consul (CPV), along with other CGI officials and VFS representatives. Altogether, 13 CGI and VFS officers and staff members participated in the camp and worked directly with community members on their consular matters.
Community leaders praise the initiative
Gary S. Sikka, Global President & CEO of APS, welcomed Ambassador Pradhan and the Consular team and praised the special initiatives undertaken under Ambassador Pradhan’s leadership to bring the Consulate closer to the Indian diaspora through direct communication, outreach, emergency accessibility, and community-based services. Sikka noted that the camp demonstrated what can be accomplished when the Consulate and community organizations work together to bring actual services closer to the people.
Harry S. Bolla, Patron of APS, emphasized the importance of arranging such camps on a continuing basis. He noted that passport, OCI, visa, PCC, and related procedures can be difficult to navigate, particularly for senior citizens and those unfamiliar with changing online systems. Bolla said that bringing knowledgeable CGI and VFS personnel directly into the community allows people not only to obtain accurate information but, more importantly, to receive practical assistance with their individual consular needs.
Prem Bhandari, President of RANA and Chairman of Jaipur Foot USA, said that when the Consulate and community organizations work together in a genuine spirit of service, the community is the ultimate beneficiary. He noted that the tremendous response demonstrated the importance of bringing consular services, assistance, and accurate guidance directly to the people.
Ajay Patel, President of BRUHUD New York Seniors, supported the initiative and its objective of making consular services and assistance more accessible to the community.
Forty young APS volunteers lead by example
One of the most inspiring aspects of the camp was the participation of 40 APS youth volunteers between the ages of 12 and 17. The young volunteers welcomed attendees, assisted with registration, entered information into spreadsheets, directed people to the appropriate service areas and Help Desk, maintained an orderly flow, and provided individual assistance wherever needed.
Janessa Sondhi, Director of Youth Development for APS, took the leading role in coordinating and supervising all 40 volunteers. Among the young volunteers recognized for their dedicated service were Bhairavi Khanna, Gia Anand, Alissa Sondhi, Angelina Uppal, and Jaskaran Singh.
Bhairavi Khanna showed particular compassion toward senior citizens with mobility difficulties. When she saw seniors using walkers who could not comfortably stand in line or wait at the Help Desk, she went directly to them, listened to their needs, and helped bring the necessary assistance to them. Among the youngest volunteers were Pearl Sikka and her friend Bela, who helped welcome attendees and enter registration information.
Notary, religious and community participation
Two Notaries Public — Eric Kumar, a member of the APS Advisory Board, and Jessica Kalra, a member of the APS Women’s Council — were available to assist community members.
The camp attracted participation from numerous religious, cultural, regional, and community organizations. Among those participating or represented were Maninder Singh Sethi, Chairman of the Glen Cove Gurdwara; Harpreet Singh Vohra, Vice President of the Hicksville Gurdwara; Govind Bhatija of AsaMai Temple; and representatives and leaders associated with Gujarati Samaj, the Hindu Center, NYTTA, TLCA, and other community organizations.
Ravinder Kodela, President of NYTTA, attended along with Hari Charan Bobbili and other NYTTA members. Kalpita Pandya Pareek represented the Brahmin community/Brahmin Society. Other community leaders attending included Dr. Krishna Kumar, Govind Munjal, Satnam Singh Parhar, Nilima Madan, Indu Gajwani, Shyam Gajwani, Beena Kothari, Jasbir Jai Singh, Pradeep Tandon, Kalpita Pandya Parikh, and Harish Thakkar, among others.
APS leadership and hospitality
APS leadership participating in the initiative included Harry S. Bolla, Patron; Gary S. Sikka, Global President & CEO; Mohinder S. Taneja, Senior Vice President; VPS Sikka, General Secretary; and Vice Presidents Paul S. Bindra, Ajay Vir Sondhi, Ravinderpal S. Narang, and Jaspal S. Arora.
Navneet S. Sondhi, APS Women’s Council Chair, and her team played an active role throughout the program, while Janessa Sondhi coordinated the youth volunteers.
Pradeep Tandon, APS Director of Media & Public Relations, played an active role before and during the camp, including responding to numerous telephone inquiries from community members seeking information about the program and the consular services available at the camp.
Breakfast and Pearl were provided by Pearl for attendees, CGI and VFS personnel, volunteers, community leaders, and guests throughout the event.
Appreciation
The American Punjabi Society, together with supporting organizations RANA, BRUHUD New York Seniors, and Jaipur Foot USA, expressed sincere appreciation to Ambassador Binaya Srikanta Pradhan and the entire CGI team; participating VFS personnel; participating religious and community organizations; APS leadership, Women’s Council, Youth Wing and Advisory Board; the two Notaries Public; community leaders; and especially the 40 young volunteers.
Above all, the organizers and supporting organizations thanked the 542 community members who attended. The extraordinary response — with people lining up an hour before the scheduled opening, attendees traveling from several states, and CGI and VFS personnel continuing to provide services until approximately 4:00 PM — reaffirmed the need for community-based consular outreach and the value of collaboration among CGI, APS, RANA, BRUHUD New York Seniors, Jaipur Foot USA, VFS, and the broader community.
Most importantly, the success of the camp demonstrated the value of bringing actual consular services directly to the community, enabling people to receive assistance with their individual cases.