The envoy pointed out that the trade and cultural links between the Kingdom and India is very old and strong.
However, he called for more people-to-people contact to take the ties to a new height and added that Indians in the Kingdom have contributed immensely toward advancing bilateral relationship.
The ambassador welcomed the suggestion for a combined initiative of the diplomatic mission and the community to serve people in a better way. He lauded community members who are interested in voluntary service.
Rao was speaking during an impressive reception hosted in his honor Thursday night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which he attended with his wife Asiya Hamid Ali Rao. Consul General Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, who was the chief guest, his wife Kausar Kidwai, consuls, businessmen and a large number of community leaders.
The Jeddah Indian Community (JIC), an umbrella organization of around 40 Indian cultural organizations, organized the event.
Majeedul Hasan anchored the evening and T.P. Ahmed delivered the welcome address. A memorandum about non-resident Indians’ issues was read by V.K. Abdul Rauf. While Syed Sharique Ali proposed a vote of thanks, Hasan Bayazid and Azhar Zai presented a memento to Rao and Badruddin Ansari formally introduced the ambassador.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Rao said: “We must make it clear to our brethren in India, who want to take up jobs in the Kingdom that there is no free visa.”
He said that people should be educated on this front so that they do not fall prey to any such trap and land in trouble, once in the Kingdom.
The ambassador was speaking about people who are put on “hurub” (runaways list) by their sponsors.
It must be noted that some sponsors indulge in selling visas on premium to jobseekers. And when they come to the Kingdom they are given either release papers to change their sponsorships or find a job elsewhere. This unfair practice is one of the reasons that compel many to runaway and finally find themselves on the Passport Department’s “hurub” list.
Rao lauded the efforts of the JIC and its coordinator Kader Khan for bringing Indians from the different regions of India under one umbrella and reminded that the beauty of India lies in the fact that “We cherish our diversity and seek unity in diversity.”
Rao urged the community to register their details with the Indian diplomatic missions as part of a plan to render better consular services and ensure more protection to Indians in Saudi Arabia.
He said that the website of the embassy is being reconstructed to make it more interactive and user friendly. “Once it’s done people will be able to register themselves online sitting at home.” The ambassador appreciated the initiatives of Kidwai in this direction at the consulate in Jeddah.
Speaking about the educational need of the expatriates’ children Rao said, “This is part of our community welfare initiatives and is the best way of helping the community because children’s education is their top priority.”
Many Indian educational institutions are keen to come to the Kingdom and the mission is in touch with the Saudi authorities to work out the modalities to cater to the higher educational needs, Rao said.
Speaking about Indian schools in the Kingdom, Rao said: “All the Indian schools belong to the community and the community should take this responsibility to improve their overall standard.”
“I have met many people who spoke to me about these schools but let me share it with you that none of them told me anything about how to improve their academic excellence,” the ambassador said taking a dig at those who keep complaining about the schools’ functioning.
Kidwai in his address thanked Rao for his support and guidance during Haj, which he called “very successful and smooth.”
He also lauded the efforts of Saudi-India Business Network (SIBN) and Indian Pilgrims Welfare Forum (IPWF) for its “exemplary works.”
