Around 50,000 Indian expatriates mainly unskilled labourers, were deported from Saudi Arabia until mid-September following an amnesty announced by the Saudi government, an Indian diplomat has said.
The figures include workers without valid residency papers or work permits as well as Haj or Umrah overstayers, who were all issued emergency travel documents by the Indian missions in Riyadh and Jeddah during the amnesty period.
“This is a record repatriation exercise carried out by the Indian diplomatic missions in cooperation with Saudi government agencies,” T C Barupal, first secretary at the Indian Embassy who looks after community welfare issues, was quoted by Arab News as saying.
Barupal said plans were under way to set up an Indian Workers Resource Center for providing information and a counselling service to members of the Indian community.
The centre will also have IT facilities, a facility for web-based attestation, capability to track down all complaints registered and to extend all possible assistance to workers. Indian government has initiated this pilot project, which is a free, walk-in resource centre providing Indian workers, especially semi-skilled and unskilled labourers, direct access to welfare services.
Barupal said India and Saudi Arabia had forged closer ties in all sectors. Two-way trade exceeded USD 21 billion in 2010-11, a sevenfold increase over the last five years, he added.
Related posts:
- Oz plans to hire thousands of Indians to plug skills shortage
- Shiv Sena stages protest against amnesty to stonepelters
- Indian deported for illegally staying in UK
- J&K MLA moves resolution in Assembly for amnesty to Afzal Guru
- Safeguard interests of Indians living abroad
- MEA sets up helplines for Indians, PIOs in Yemen
- Indians in Oz rally in support of Anna
- 16 Indians among 41 Asians face deportation from UK
- Indians among top Mount Everest conquerors
- 1 crore blood money offered for 17 Indians in Dubai death row
