More than 400 volunteers have registered with the Indian Embassy as part of a major community initiative launched by Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao here yesterday to help workers in distress.

Rao, who urged all Indian workers to rectify their status or leave the country during the grace period, also warned that those who do not legalize their status will face arrest, jail sentence and huge fines before their deportation.

“Saudi authorities have clearly told us that after the grace period that ends on July 3, the Ministry of Interior will start search operations to arrest all those who violate Saudi residency rules and laws,” he said.

“All services offered by the volunteers will be absolutely free,” Rao said. A document — “Advisory to Indian Volunteers” — was also released.

The list of volunteers has been uploaded on the embassy’s website at www.indianembassy.org.sa. “This is the first list of volunteers and more names will be added subsequently,” Rao said in his message.

He said the teaching and non-teaching staff of all the 10 Indian community schools in Saudi Arabia are contributing to this service voluntarily. A meeting with the Indian volunteers and social workers will be held today at the embassy premises in Riyadh.

He said a similar meeting of volunteers will be held at the Indian Consulate in Jeddah on Wednesday, while another meeting will be organized at the Indian community school in Dammam on Friday.