MUSCAT – The Board of Directors of Indian Schools in Oman has responded to growing scrutiny over funds collected from parents following the devastating Kerala floods, clarifying that the money was ultimately used for student welfare and educational needs within Oman after remaining unutilized for several years.

The issue resurfaced after reports and criticism from sections of the expatriate community alleged that funds raised for Kerala flood relief were diverted for other purposes. The matter was raised during the BOD’s annual media briefing on Saturday, where chairman Syed Salman confirmed that the funds were not transferred to flood victims in Kerala but were instead utilised for operational and developmental needs of Indian schools in Oman, particularly those located in interior regions.

Providing a detailed explanation to The Arabian Stories, Salman stated that the funds in question were originally collected in 2019 at the request of the Indian Social Club (ISC), the only officially authorised Indian community body permitted to collect humanitarian donations in Oman. The School Board facilitated the collection from Indian schools, with the funds duly accounted for under the Board’s custody.
Salman said that despite repeated follow-ups, the ISC was unable to provide clear instructions or a confirmed mechanism for the onward transfer of the funds to Kerala.

He added that under Omani regulations, the School Board was not authorised to remit funds outside the country independently, resulting in the funds remaining unused for more than six years. Three successive boards, he said, faced the same regulatory limitations.

“In the intervening period, the post-COVID economic landscape has exerted significant financial pressure on Indian schools in Oman,” Salman said, noting that these community-run institutions rely solely on student fees and receive no external financial support.

He highlighted the challenges faced by schools in remote areas such as Masirah, Khasab, Thumrait, Rustaq, Duqm and Saham, which operate with limited resources but are maintained to ensure access to education for Indian children across the Sultanate.

According to Salman, with the original relief mechanism no longer operational and the funds remaining idle for an extended period, the current Board undertook a comprehensive review. By a voice vote, it resolved to utilise the unspent funds strictly for student welfare and educational purposes, particularly to support financially strained interior schools.

“The funds are now being deployed solely for the benefit of students and the school community,” Salman said, adding that this approach ensures the contributions are reinvested back into the same community in line with ethical governance, transparency and collective welfare.

However, the disclosure made during the media briefing was met with “deep disturbance” by community leaders, including social activist PM Jabir. He maintained that the Indian Social Club had obtained the required approval from the Ministry of Social Development and had transferred the funds it collected directly to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF) in Kerala.

“The amount collected by the school board was not transferred despite repeated requests and is now reported to have been spent on other purposes,” Jabir said, calling the move unacceptable and deserving of strong protest.

Kerala was hit by one of its worst natural disasters in 2018, prompting large-scale fundraising efforts by Indian expatriate communities across the Gulf. The differing accounts have now sparked calls from community members for greater clarity and accountability regarding the handling of the funds.
It may be noted that Under Omani regulations, expatriate organisations must obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Social Development to collect humanitarian donations.

Jabir said the required permission was obtained by the Indian Social Club, the only officially authorised Indian community body permitted to carry out such collections.