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Consulate General of India holds outreach camp for diaspora in Hicksville
The consular camp held on Aug. 9 provided direct access to vital documentation services,
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Staff Reporter - Wed, 12, Aug 2026
- 02:59 EDT
- 21
Representational image / X/@India in New York
The Consulate General of India in New York held a special "Consulate @ Your Doorstep" camp in Hicksville, Long Island, in a major community outreach effort to streamline administrative assistance for the Indian diaspora.
The consular camp held on Aug. 9 provided direct access to vital documentation services, drawing around 170 applicants who received assistance with Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) applications, passport renewals and other routine consular services, bringing essential services closer to the community.
The initiative was organized in collaboration with prominent diaspora organizations, including the American Punjabi Society, the Rajasthan Association of North America (RANA) and Bruhud Seniors.
Addressing attendees at the event, Consul General of India in New York Binaya S. Pradhan highlighted new initiatives, including e-OCI, designed to improve service delivery, and reaffirmed the Consulate's commitment to providing seamless, accessible and hassle-free consular services to the Indian diaspora.
Consulate @ Your Doorstep!@IndiainNewYork organized a #ConsularCamp in Hicksville, New York, in partnership with the American Punjabi Society, RANA and Bruhud Seniors.
— India in New York (@IndiainNewYork) August 12, 2026
Around 170 applicants availed #OCI, #Passport and other consular services at the camp, bringing essential… pic.twitter.com/B5Fi0w1qZN
The drive was supported by community leaders — including Harry Singh Bolla and Gary Sikka of the American Punjabi Society, Prem Bhandari from RANA, Ajay Patel from Bruhud Seniors and several student volunteers who assisted senior citizens and managed logistical support during the event.
"I'm here to renew the passport of my kids and that's a huge service from the Indian consulate. It's very good that they are helping the community," an attendee of the camp said.
Hailing the initiative, an elderly woman who attended the camp said, "This is the first consulate which is opening every single day, 365 days of the year. It's so important and I'm so grateful to the entire consulate general of India for coming and supporting everybody here and I think it's so important to have a way to get back home and so for a lot of people this was very helpful in terms of getting back to India or visiting or seeing their culture back again."
"I think this is one of the best things that can happen to us Long Islanders," another community member said.
The next camp will be held on Aug. 16 in Buffalo, New York.
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