NEW DELHI: Dedicating the day to the hardworking labour community — the unsung heroes who contribute immensely towards nation-building and the growth of society — the Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), functioning under the aegis of the Embassy of India in Qatar, organised a special International Labour Day celebration titled Rang Tarang 2026 in Doha.
The event held on May 8 with much fanfare, brought together members of the Indian expatriate community, volunteers, social workers and senior officials to recognise the contribution of Indian workers towards Qatar’s rapid growth and infrastructure development.
Qatar is home to one of the world’s largest Indian expatriate populations, with estimates suggesting that nearly 7 lakh to over 8 lakh Indians currently live and work in the Gulf nation, many of them employed in construction, transport, hospitality, healthcare and service sectors. The programme also acknowledged the contribution of volunteers and humanitarian workers involved in welfare activities for the Indian community in Qatar. 
The evening began with cultural performances, music and dance presentations by members of the Indian community, creating a festive atmosphere for workers and their families, said a statement here.
ICBF General Secretary Deepak Shetty welcomed the dignitaries, volunteers and members of the community. ICBF President Shanavas Bava, in his address, underlined the importance of recognising workers, particularly at a time when migrant labour communities continue to shoulder demanding working conditions acr
oss the Gulf region.
He reiterated ICBF’s continued commitment towards humanitarian and welfare activities for underprivileged sections of the Indian expatriate population.
Addressing the gathering, India’s Ambassador to Qatar, Vipul, praised the Indian labour community for its hard work and contribution to Qatar’s economic development.
He also appreciated ICBF’s long-standing humanitarian initiatives, including medical camps, labour camp visits, health awareness drives and welfare support programmes carried out over several decades. Dr Eish Singhal, First Secretary at the Embassy of India and Coordinating Officer of ICBF, was also present during the programme.
Among the notable initiatives launched during the event was the release of a multilingual guidance booklet for first-time Indian workers and visitors arriving in Qatar. The booklet, released by the Ambassador, contains practical information, safety guidance and important dos and don’ts for expatriates navigating life and work in the Gulf country.
Prepared in Hindi, English, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada, the booklet aims to help newly arriving workers better understand local systems, labour regulations and community support networks.
Community leaders said such initiatives become particularly important for semi-skilled and first-time migrant workers who often arrive in unfamiliar environments with limited local knowledge.
The event was attended by representatives from Qatar’s Ministry of Labour, the International Labour Organization (ILO), Hamad Medical Corporation and leaders of various Indian community organisations in Doha besides former ICBF presidents, volunteers and social workers associated with welfare activities in the Gulf country, said the statement.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Neelambari Sushant, Head of Jail Visits at ICBF, who acknowledged the efforts of volunteers, artists, sponsors and organisers in making the event successful.
#qatar #laborcommunity #event #indiancommunity #migrant #indianembassy #indiancommunitybenevolentforum #gulfcountry #expatriates #network
For any query, contact indiahealthbuddy@gmail.com
