JEDDAH, 25 February 2005 — With about a million of its citizens working in the Gulf region, the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh has created a panel to examine the challenges those workers face abroad and when they eventually return home.
The three-member study group, consisting of two non-resident Indians (NRIs) from the United States and one from Saudi Arabia, has been set up to look into the problems of NRIs and suggest remedial measures.
Panel member Afsar Faheem said the group was the idea of Muhammad Ali Shabbir, Andhra Pradesh minister of information and public relations, as part of a commitment by the present government to study the various issues of NRIs from that state.
The new committee is based on a similar effort undertaken by the south Indian state of Kerala, which was the first to study non-resident issues through its Non-Resident Keralites Authority (NORKA).
Besides Faheem, a veteran NRI who has been residing in Jeddah for the last 25 years, other members include Narasimha Raju and Leeladhar Rao. The group has been given six months to submit its report.
A general meeting set for March 4 at the Consulate General of India will be hosted by Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed to discuss the terms and reference of the study group. Faheem met with representatives of various NRI organizations in the Gulf, and he was assured full cooperation in examining NRI issues.
Among the problems facing the repatriates from the labor class are those of rehabilitation. Faheem said one of the ideas under consideration is a pension plan patterned on the Kerala model. Other problems relate to labor disputes pending in the Saudi labor courts arising from nonpayment of wages.
Faheem said a website ([email protected]) has been created for AP NRIs to send in their feedback. The suggestions can also be e-mailed to [email protected].