Community raises concern

The fate of 60,000 Indian workers is still unclear as talks continue between Indian and Saudi labor officials on how to deal with the situation.
A total of 50,000 Indian workers have registered with the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and 10,000 at the consulate in Jeddah, said Faiz Ahmed Kidwai, Indian consul general.
Kidwai told Arab News that it was still not clear how many of the workers wanted to go home. Therefore, a clear plan had not emerged despite a series of meetings held almost daily. “There is no solution yet. The Indian government also does not have a plan yet, but it is working on it gradually,” said Kidwai.
He said there has been agreement between the two sides to accelerate discussions on the memorandum of understanding on labor cooperation. A joint Saudi-Indian working committee will have its first meeting in New Delhi later this month.
Members of the Indian community have expressed concern about the plight of the Indian workers, with some saying the Saudi government must ensure that sponsors pay the dues of all workers who want to go home. They also want the Indian government to have plans in place if large numbers of workers arrive back in India.
“This sudden move of the Saudi government will affect the families of those 60,000 workers. The government should have some rehabilitation programs for these expat workers,” said Aijaz Khan, president of Khak-e-Taiba Trust (KTT).
Murali Ravindran urged Indian states to prepare for returning workers. “The state and central governments have no plans at present, not even Kerala. The NORKA (Non-Resident Keralite Affairs) Minister K.C. Joseph said he would try to arrange loans at low interest rates for Gulf returnees affected by the Nitaqat program to start their own small businesses. Ravi also said that he will direct the Indian agencies concerned to use the Indian Community Welfare Fund to purchase flight tickets for “those who cannot afford it.”
Ravindran said some workers were losing hope of ever going back home, particularly runaways or those workers whose sponsors have declared them ‘huroob’ (absconding). “They cannot go home if their sponsors don’t agree. It is an extremely scary situation for these workers. I heard several people say that they have no option but to commit suicide.”