Hassan Cheruppa
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Nearly 60,000 Indians have so far registered at the Indian Embassy, Riyadh and Jeddah Consulate General to return home by taking advantage of the grace period given by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, said Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs.
Addressing an Indian community reception hosted by the Consul General of India Faiz Ahmad Kidwai Sunday evening on the consulate premises, Ravi said that his ministry will meet the expense for hiring more temporary staff to tackle the huge turnout of overstayers and runaway (Huroob) workers over the coming days as well as to expedite the process of sending them back home.
However, earlier in the press conference, the minister refused to answer a question about giving air tickets for the poor workers who desperately started thronging the Indian missions to return home.
Ravi explained the situation that necessitated his visit to the Kingdom at the head of a high level delegation to meet top Saudi officials. “Our first priority will be to protect some 2.4 million Indian guest workers in the Kingdom.
“The visit is just the beginning of an interaction and it would be a continued process,” he said. “The purpose of our visit is not only to discuss all the issues concerning the Indian community but also to impress upon you that you should abide by the law of the land.”
Ravi said that the delegation discussed with the Labor Minister Adel Fakieh about finding some ways to accommodate a section of people affected by the Nitaqat Saudization drive to remain in the Kingdom as legal workers.
“We are also interacting with the community leaders and will apprise the Prime Minister of India about the real situation arising out of the Nitaqat implementation and the ideal steps to be taken in this regard.”
Addressing the gathering, Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao urged the community members to rush either to rectify their status or leave the Kingdom by taking advantage of the royal reprieve.
“It is the time to register your name and so don’t wait until the eleventh hour,” he said, adding that the Indian missions needed volunteers to help them complete the process of those returning home.
