RIYADH, 28 July 2004 — A 24-hour help line has been set up for Indian expatriates in the Kingdom to offer them assistance and guidance.
The help line was launched by Indian Ambassador Kamaluddin Ahmed this week at the mission’s premises in the capital.
“This is the result of a long-felt need among Indians in the Kingdom. Those who are in distress can contact the mission through the help line and the embassy officials on duty would advise them accordingly,” Ahmed told Arab News.
The envoy pointed out that there are many Indians working in remote places who are not only ignorant of official procedures but also have communication problems. “When they have problems of consular nature such as loss of travel documents and arrests by the police, the help line will strive to provide timely advice and guidance to these needy members of the community,” noted the ambassador. He added that the help line will be constantly reviewed to make it more useful and responsive to the needs of the Indian community in the Kingdom. The help line phone numbers include 966-1-4881982 and 4884697.
During his recent visit to the Kingdom, the Indian Minister of State For External Affairs, E. Ahamed pledged to set up a help line at the Riyadh mission and also to organize an open house forum on every second Thursday of the month from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Indian missions in Riyadh and Jeddah.
The first open house forum was held in both the missions in Jeddah and Riyadh on July 8 and enabled the members of the community to meet embassy officials regarding consular and welfare work.
“This is a good opportunity for the Indian expatriates to meet the embassy officials without prior appointment,” Ahmed said. The envoy reiterated the commitment of the two missions in the Kingdom to serve the Indian community and ensure their welfare by all possible means.
In a related development, E. Ahamed told the Rajya Sabha (upper house of parliament) that his government is closely monitoring the security situation in the Gulf countries with particular attention being paid to development that may have a bearing on the well-being of Indians working here.
“Our missions are in constant contact with local authorities for the safety and security of the Indian communities in their jurisdiction. The missions are in regular contact with Indian communities in their respective countries to render all possible assistance in this regard,” Ahamed said. The minister told the house that the Indian ambassador to the Kingdom met with Eastern Province Governor Prince Mohammed Ibn Fahd and he was assured of the fullest cooperation with respect to the safety of Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia. “Indians have not been targeted so far in any Arab country,” he noted.
There are some 1.5 million Indians working in the Kingdom which is the largest concentration in the Gulf.
