THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The southern Indian state of Kerala, which has a huge presence in the Saudi labor market, will airlift illegals.

“We have charted out a working plan for their repatriation. We are giving free air tickets to those who are not able to meet their travel expenses and there will be charted flights to clear the rush,” said K.C. Joseph, the state’s minister for the diaspora.

The state was expecting a large number of people coming back after the grace period ended on Nov. 3. However, only 84 people arrived at the state’s three airports Monday and the number of returnees registered online and at their counters at the airports on Tuesday was 128.

A total of 13,842 illegal workers have returned since April but many of them went back to take up fresh jobs in the Gulf.

The government expects at least 1,000 people stranded in the Kingdom for not being able to pay for their travel after registering with the Indian missions for outpasses.

“We have given instructions to chart the first flight on Nov. 20 and there will be flights from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to the Kerala airports,” the minister said.

The government has formed regional committees in the three Saudi cities where the Indian workers are concentrated to identify the deserved people and plan their travel.

“Those who have registered with the Indian diplomatic missions between April 1 and Nov. 3 should approach these panels for help and apply for air tickets in a specified forum with all details,” he said.