“The Telangana government gave its consent to set up an UAE consulate in Hyderabad and the government of Saudi Arabi was also willing in principal to set up a Saudi consulate in Hyderabad.”
Bheem Reddy, President Emigrants Welfare Forum
The Emigrants Welfare Forum President Bheem Reddy has asked Members of Parliament from Telangana to raise issues that concern the Gulf immigrants, reported hindudayashankar.com.
In an open letter on December 7, 2022, Reddy demanded that the MPs of Telangana ask the Indian government to convince the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to set up their consulates (diplomatic missions) in Hyderabad for the benefit of migrants to the Gulf nations. He reminded that the Telangana government gave its consent to set up an UAE consulate in Hyderabad and the government of Saudi Arabi was also willing in principal to set up a Saudi consulate in Hyderabad.
With regard to the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana’ (PBBY) — an accident insurance policy worth Rs 10 lakh — Reddy said that the insurance covered only accidental death and the government of India should take the initiative to amend the provisions of the insurance to cover natural death (death due to any reason) as well. Stating that about 1700 Telangana migrant workers died in the Gulf countries in the last eight and half years, he said that the amendment to the insurance cover and applying it to natural death would benefit the bereaved families.
Reddy also said that the government should support the victims of wage theft by providing legal aid to the migrant workers who returned from the Gulf and other countries during the Covid period to get back their salary arrears, bonus, PF and gratuity (End of Service Benefits) from their foreign employers
He also said that the MPs should also ask the government to break its silence on the deaths of Indian workers in Qatar. Official figures say that 2,711 Indians died in Qatar during 2010-20. All the deceased workers were involved in the construction of football stadiums, related constructions and other works, he said, and added that about 100 migrants from Telangana had died in Qatar in the last ten years. Compensation should be paid to migrant workers who sacrificed their lives in Qatar irrespective of cause of death, he demanded.
Reddy also said that the government should support the victims of wage theft by providing legal aid to the migrant workers who returned from the Gulf and other countries during the Covid period to get back their salary arrears, bonus, PF and gratuity (End of Service Benefits) from their foreign employers.
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