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The minister is focusing on day-to-day issues experienced by blue collar workers who constitute a major segment of the Indian community in the oil rich kingdom
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Commenting upon women trafficking and house maid issues, the minister added that its victims themselves were falling into trap by avoiding legal migration and opting for visit visas for a third country.
Indian Minister of State for External Affairs V Muralidharan Minister reiterated that PM Modi is keen on Indian community living in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.
In a mark of engagement with the diaspora, Muralidharan has been busy in constantly meeting with Indian community members from various segments in Riyadh.
The minister is focusing on day-to-day issues experienced by blue collar workers who constitute a major segment of the Indian community in the oil rich kingdom.
The community members narrated a wide range of woes starting from exorbitant school fees back home in India for NRI children to delay in clearing the Huroob cases.
Huroob is an Arabic word referring to someone who has escaped. According to Saudi Labour Laws, all employers must report any foreign worker they sponsor who absconds. The absconding system is a major concern among migrant rights advocates because it criminalises employment mobility and can trap workers in abusive working conditions
They also aired their views on family dependent fees, higher education to visit visas, and death cases.
The minister listened patiently to the problems, grievances, and suggestions put forth by the community members, reported siasat. com.
“We are determined to address every single issue that affects any Indian in abroad”, the Minister told the Indian community delegation that met him last Monday at the embassy.
Muralidharan reiterated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was keen on the Indian community living in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries and the government had ushered in a new era by engaging with the vast class of its diaspora.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is always trying to reach out to common masses and has been working constantly for welfare of Indians abroad and announcing slew of measures to ensure safety and welfare of Indians working in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries, Muralidharan told the community members.
The community members narrated a wide range of woes starting from exorbitant school fees back home in India for NRI children to delay in clearing the Huroob cases
Commenting upon women trafficking and house maid issues, the minister added that its victims themselves were falling into trap by avoiding legal migration and opting for visit visas for a third country.
Muralidharan also highlighted that state governments ought to play a constructive role in curbing unsafe recruitment of Indian workers.
He urged the community to bring notice of the problem into state governments where police, which is a state subject, act.
The Indian Steering Committee that comprises veteran NRIs from various states met with the minister under leadership of Zaigham Khan.
The steering committee members urged the minister to have a community hall for Indian community functions in the Saudi capital.
Prominent community leader Shihab Kottukad explained the core issues that need to be addressed by the government level.
Shihab highlighted the expansion of insurance ambit and establishing more labour welfare personnel.
Telangana NRI Forum President Mohammed Abdul Jabbar drew attention towards delays in forwarding end of service benefits and other financial settlements of deceased workers.
Jabbar said that bereaved families back home in India are facing difficulties in claiming their legitimate amount.
Gulam Khan, Sulltan Mazhar, Ahmed Imtiyaz, Deepak Satish, Santosh Shetty, Anwar Qurhid, Prominent Malayali community workers Raafi Pangodu, Sidik Turvooru and Telugu community members Ananda Raju, Sucharita; Saleem Maie, Saleem Mohammed, Ahad Siddique, Saroj, and Munir among others who aired their views to the minister.
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