The plan for the help desks was debated at a meeting held last week between Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao and senior office-bearers of the Riyadh Indian Friendship Association (RIFA).
The delegation of social workers comprised RIFA President Chembil Mohandas, Secretary Rajeev Harippad, Vice President Raju Philip and its Executive Committee member James Jacob.
Speaking to Arab News on Friday, Mohandas said the ambassador agreed to set up the help desks with the assistance of volunteers and embassy officials.
Mohandas said the envoy was concerned about the problems faced by the first-time arrivals and was keen to help make their entry into the Kingdom as smooth as possible.
Mohandas expressed delight over the ambassador's interest in extending maximum help to underprivileged Indians who arrive in the Kingdom for employment.
“The ambassador was impressed with the suggestion and will work for the necessary implementation with the cooperation of community members who are interested in voluntary service,” the RIFA official said. Mohandas said the ambassador also promised to consider restoring the previous scheme of offering financial assistance to families whose bread-winners died while working in the Kingdom. Earlier, around Rs60,000 was paid to each family that lost a family member in the Kingdom.
Endorsing RIFA's suggestion to hold the International Film Festival in the embassy auditorium, the ambassador regretted his inability to grant permission to Indian organizations in the Kingdom to hold cultural functions at the embassy's auditorium due to logistical and security concerns.
The envoy also promised to review the problem of extending legal assistance to distressed Indian workers. It is estimated that there are around 2,000 Indian nationals in various prisons in Saudi Arabia.
“Most of these prisoners were convicted without proper legal defense on their behalf mainly because of their inability to hire Saudi attorneys to appear for their cases,” Mohandas said, pointing out that Saudi lawyers are allowed third party representations in courts and that the embassy representatives often act as interpreters but are otherwise, not of much use. Established in 1997, RIFA is a social service organization that works for the welfare of its countrymen living in the capital. There is some 2 million Indian workers deployed in all parts of the Kingdom.
