The Indian Embassy in Paris, in collaboration with L’Association Frehindi, successfully conducted its first-ever Consular Camp in Lyon, bringing essential consular services directly to the Indian community in the region. The event, spearheaded by Mr. Haru Mehra, CEO and Founder of Le Frehindi, was a remarkable success, with over 70 individuals availing services that would have otherwise required a costly and time-consuming trip to Paris.
🇮🇳 A Community-Centric Initiative
This pioneering initiative saved attendees anywhere from €300 to €500, which they would have otherwise spent on travel, accommodation, and other expenses associated with visiting the Indian Consulate in Paris. Normally, Indian nationals residing in and around Lyon have to undertake a 500 km journey to the capital, often requiring multiple visits to complete their paperwork.
With the Consular Camp, these essential services were made available locally and free of cost, making a significant impact on the lives of those who attended.
The Consular Camp was held on 15th March 2025 at Novotel Centre Confluence Bord de Saône from 10 AM to 5 PM, providing a full day of essential consular services to the Indian community in Lyon.
✅ Comprehensive Consular Services Provided
The camp offered a wide range of consular services, including:
✔️ Attestation of Documents
✔️ Police Clearance Certificates (PCC)
✔️ Passport Renewal
✔️ Birth Registration
✔️ OCI Card Application, Renewal, and Transfer
✔️ Name Change Attestation
✔️ Adoption Deed Attestation
✔️ Indian Driving License Verification
✔️ Emergency Exit Permit
✔️ Spouse Visa Documentation Attestation
✔️ Indian Citizenship Renunciation Certificate
✔️ Power of Attorney (PoA) Attestation
✔️ NRI Certificate Issuance
✔️ Life Certificate (for Pensioners) and other regular consular services…
This initiative made it easier and more efficient for the Indian diaspora in Lyon to access these critical services, strengthening their connection with the embassy and ensuring their administrative needs were met smoothly.
👥 Well-Organized Volunteer Support
A team of over 15 volunteers, trained online by embassy officials before the event, played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth execution of the camp. The day began at 9:00 AM, with a briefing session led by embassy officials and Mr. Mehra. Volunteers were then divided into specialized teams to manage different aspects of the camp:
- 📑 Inspection Team: Led by Mr. Rama Kumble, this team carefully checked documents for accuracy before submission.
- 🎟️ Token Distribution Team: Ensured an organized and systematic queue for attendees.
- 📄 Guidance & Assistance Team: Helped people with filling forms, printing missing documents, and navigating the process.
- 📌 Embassy Support Team: Assisted the embassy officials with administrative tasks.
With a well-structured system in place, the camp efficiently managed the morning rush, ensuring that people received assistance quickly and effectively.
🇮🇳 Embassy Officials Leading the Effort
The camp was led by senior embassy officials, including:
- Consulate General Mr. Rupjyoti Brahma Karjee
- Mr. Anmol Jadhav (handling passport services)
- Three officials from the newly opened Marseille Consulate
The Paris Consulate team, led by Mr. Jadhav, primarily managed passport-related services, while the Marseille Consulate team handled other consular matters. Their dedication and commitment ensured that even complex cases were resolved efficiently.
🤝 A Day of Hard Work & Community Spirit
The event saw an initial surge of visitors, with peak traffic before 1:00 PM. Recognizing the volunteers’ hard work, L’Association Frehindi arranged lunch at McDonald’s for them, while embassy officials, along with Mr. Mehra, enjoyed a working lunch at a nearby Vietnamese restaurant. This provided an excellent opportunity to discuss future consular camps and ways to further support the growing Indian community in Lyon.
The afternoon session was relatively more relaxed, allowing embassy officials to handle complicated cases with personalized attention. Mr. Karjee took the lead in resolving these issues, ensuring that every individual received proper guidance.
⏳ Extending Service Hours for Maximum Impact
As the camp drew to a close at 5:00 PM, a final rush of attendees prompted the embassy to extend operations by 15 minutes, ensuring that everyone was served. This gesture was greatly appreciated by the attendees, reflecting the embassy’s commitment to community service.
📸 A Unifying Experience for the Indian Community
After the event, a group photo was taken with the embassy officials and volunteers, marking the successful conclusion of the first Consular Camp in Lyon.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Karjee emphasized the importance of unity within the Indian diaspora, stating:
“No matter which region of India we come from, when we represent our country, we are one. We must continue to work together and support initiatives like these that benefit our entire community.”
With this inspiring message, the camp concluded on a high note, with the Paris Consulate team catching a late-night train back to Paris, while the Marseille Consulate team returned home with a sense of accomplishment.
📍 A Model for Future Consular Camps
The success of this event has set a precedent for future Consular Camps across various French cities. L’Association Frehindi, under the leadership of Mr. Haru Mehra, has played a pivotal role in bridging the gap between the Indian Embassy and the community, ensuring that essential services are accessible and affordable.
With the growing Indian diaspora in Lyon and surrounding regions, initiatives like this not only ease bureaucratic burdens but also strengthen the bond between the embassy and the Indian community.
🙏 A Big Thank You!
A heartfelt thank you to the Indian Embassy in Paris, the Marseille Consulate, L’Association Frehindi, and all the dedicated volunteers who made this camp a resounding success.
Your efforts and commitment have positively impacted the Indian community in Lyon, and we look forward to more such collaborations in the future!
🇮🇳 Jai Hind! 🇮🇳
📩 Get in Touch:
🌐 Website: www.lefrehindi.com
📧 Email: team@lefrehindi.com
📞 India Contact (Shilpa): +91 9811237050
📞 France Contact (Vaishali): +33 6 27 92 43 98 (WhatsApp messages are welcome)
Le Frehindi is proud to have played a key role in mobilizing the community and facilitating this momentous occasion!
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