Dying patient seeks help to return home

A terminally ill Indian expatriate, who is confined at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Jeddah, is up against another struggle: obtain his biometrics in order to return home to see his children before he dies.
Sakaya Mariya Doss from Tiruchapalli of Tamil Nadu state in India has been diagnosed with cancer and is unable to avail himself of the amnesty period due to his deteriorating health and new labor laws issued by the Ministry of Labor.
Doss has pleaded for help, but his appeals have fallen on deaf ears.
According to the ministry’s new laws, the deportation center in Jeddah will not accept the biometrics of expatriates holding iqamas issued in other provinces. In Doss’ case his iqama was issued in Dammam, which means he has to obtain his biometrics from the Eastern Province.
Bedridden, travel is extremely difficult for Doss. Moreover, Saudi Arabian Airlines will not issue an airline ticket without a valid iqama, which compounds his problems and leaves him with only one choice of traveling by road to Dammam, a staggering distance of 1,400 kilometers. Given his health, traveling such a distance is a near impossibility.
Doss’ brother Arulanantham has been seeking the help of the Indian Consulate to arrange for fingerprinting with no success.
Doss had borrowed money to be able to come to the Kingdom for work. He was promised work as a heavy-vehicle driver, only to find himself working as a farm laborer and a part-time driver in the Eastern Province.
According to Arulanantham, Doss ran away from his sponsor two years ago after he was denied salary for six months and was forced to work long hours. He performed menial jobs in Jeddah before falling ill. Doctors have diagnosed Doss with cancer and since he was admitted to KAUH on March 11, his health has deteriorated.