Indian Expatriate Returns to Kerala After 22 Years Following Social Media Plea

Sreedevi, a 53-year-old Indian national from Kerala, has been repatriated from the UAE after living undocumented in the country for 22 years. Her return to India follows a viral video plea posted on Facebook that alerted diplomatic officials and social workers to her circumstances. Two Decades of Isolation Originally from Kollam, Sreedevi traveled to the UAE in 2002 to work as a domestic assistant. According to family reports, she lost her passport and contact with her relatives shortly after her arrival. Without valid identification or residency documents, she remained in the country for over two decades, unable to exit through standard channels. Diplomatic and Social Intervention The repatriation process was initiated after a video of Sreedevi surfaced on social media, reaching UAE-based social worker Ashraf Thamarassery. The Indian Consulate in Dubai collaborated with UAE immigration authorities to issue an emergency certificate, known as an "out-pass," and waive accumulated overstay fines. Sreedevi arrived at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport this week to reunite with her family, including children who were minors at the time of her departure. This case highlights the…