TRIVANDRUM, 11 July 2004 — Fifteen more Indian workers illegally recruited to Iraq have returned, according to Freign Minister Natwar Singh. The authorities are checking if any more Indian workers were stranded in the war-torn country, he said here.
Natwar and his deputy E. Ahmed, who arrived here yesterday to study problems faced by Indian workers migrating to the Gulf, also held elaborate discussions with Chief Minister A.K. Antony.
Antony demanded withdrawal of the tax on the interest earned from NRI accounts proposed in the budget presented last week and cut in airfares on the Gulf sector.
Kerala’s demands also include rights to vote in the elections for the expatriates, opening of consulates of the Gulf countries in the state, simplification and decentralization of processing of passports applications and appointing Malayalam-speaking officials at the Indian embassies in the Gulf.
Natwar offered to consider all the demands including amendments in the People’s Representation Act to enfranchise the expatriates.
Later in the evening, Natwar launched Swanthana, a relief fund for the returning expatriates who are in distress. Ahmed inaugurated Kuwait Koipram Pravasi Association’s developmental initiatives in Koipra, Pathanamthitta.
