JEDDAH, 29 August 2004 — The newly established non-resident Indian (NRI) cell in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh will give priority to NRI issues related to education, housing, investment and welfare plans, a minister from the state visiting the city said yesterday.
Mohammed Ali Shabbir, minister for information, public relations and NRI cell, said this at a community meeting organized here by the Indian Doctors, Engineers, Architects and Accountants Society.
Shabbir, who was here to perform Umrah and met with the community to get a first-hand feedback on their problems and grievances, said the state government led by Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had started fulfilling the promises made during the recent assembly election.
Reddy had given some assurances at the NRI convention and festival that was organized recently in Hyderabad. The promise of setting up an independent NRI cell has been fulfilled immediately after the election of the Congress by a huge majority, recalled Shabbir.
“The cell is dedicated to look into the issues of overseas Indian workers, especially those from Andhra Pradesh for their support to the Congress in its victory,” he said.
“I thank you all from this holy land for praying for the success of the secular Congress party at the state assembly election. Our party promised to give free electricity to the farmers and reserve a five percent quota in government jobs for the state’s Muslims. Within 50 days of coming to power, we’ve fulfilled the promises,” Shabbir said.
Consul General Ausaf Sayeed lauded the efforts of young organizations for the betterment of the community. He hoped that community organizations would further enhance their commitment to various welfare activities and urged them to attend the upcoming second Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi.
