Though Consul (Community Welfare) S.D. Moorthy’s visit was primarily to attend a court case against two Indians, who are in jail for nine years on a gold embezzlement case.

Moorthy was approached for assistance on consular and labor-related issues, and many of them were resolved.

Local Indian associations (Non Resident Keralite Forum, Aseer Pravasi Sangam, OICC, KMCC) organized open forums and used those occasions to hold a reception for the consul.

The Committee of Community Welfare Association (CCWA), Abha, also hosted a reception for Moorthy. CCWA is an informal association that is made up of community leaders and social workers.

The CCWAs get support from the Indian Consulate and they render welfare services to the Indian community residing in Abha, Al Baha, Jazan, Najran, Taif, Yanbu and Tabuk.

Moorthy said at the reception, “We are going to form a CCWA at Qunfudah soon.”

The consul also took time out to visit two Indians undergoing medical treatment at the Saudi German hospital, Abha, and wished them speedy recovery.

Another interesting case, which he encountered, was that of an Indian woman from the city of Hyderabad, who met him with her four children.

“She demanded my intervention in getting her husband, who has been detained by Jawazat authorities for violation of labor law, released. He has been in Abha for 20 years on free visa and following a tiff with his sponsor, he was arrested on being declared huroob (runaway).”

The lady pleaded for our help to stay back in the Kingdom for her children’s education and future. “The consulate assisted her to file a complaint with the governor’s office and issued an authority letter to one of our CCWA members to pursue the case,” Moorthy said.

Another labor-related problem too was resolved, following a group of nurses’ complaint against their employer for not giving them exit visas even though they had completed their contract period.

“Two of them are getting married next month,” Moorthy said, adding, “I met the GM of the hospital and requested his consideration of the plea by the nurses. After great persuasion and negotiation, he agreed to deport them one by one every month. One nurse has been given exit visa and air ticket to leave. The GM complained the Saudi labor department was not granting him new visas and he cannot afford to release the nurses in one group for that would jeopardize his hospital.”

Dr. Velmurugan, vice patron of Abha CCWA and a well known neurologist in Asir Region with Aseer General Hospital, has been active in assisting the Indian community in Asir.