Many from Telangana stranded in Saudi Arabia

Kin seek State govt intervention

Nizamabad: The slump in oil rich Saudi Arabia's economy has badly hit hundreds of workers hailing from Telangana who went to the Gulf country for livelihood. The workers have been rendered jobless and their salaries are unpaid following the closure of several crisis-ridden companies.

Despite the assurance of Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj that no Indian worker rendered jobless in Saudi Arabia would go without food, many of them who got stuck in camps for migrant workers are said to be starving. The Indian consulate in Jeddah distributed food to the affected workers at the instance of the External Affairs Ministry for some days. Later, provision of succor to migrant workers has been stopped.

According to the kin of workers, their dear ones are facing severe hardships in the camps for migrant workers. Though the External Affairs Ministry promised to ensure the safe return of all the stranded workers in Saudi Arabia to India, it was alleged that adequate arrangements were not made in this regard.

The issuance of exit passes to the stranded workers to facilitate their return is said to be at a slow pace. The Indian embassy in Riyadh is flooded with thousands of applications for exit passes. Many workers are doubtful over getting their wage dues before September 25 as promised by the External Affairs Ministry.

Several workers who want to return to India without waiting for unpaid salaries cannot do so as their passports are held by Saudi employers. The crackdown on workers overstaying in Saudi Arabia without valid visas and work permits have complicated the matters further for the Gulf immigrants hailing from Nizamabad, Adilabad, Medak, Karimnagar, Warangal and Mahabubnagar districts.

Unscrupulous agents and middlemen are to be blamed for the plight of workers who are languishing in Saudi jails. The kin of workers have urged the State government to intervene in the matter and make arrangements through the Indian embassy in Riyadh for the safe return of workers hailing from Telangana who got stuck in Saudi Arabia.

The Central government should also initiate measures to speed up the process for safe return of Indians from the Gulf country, said the kin who spoke to their family members in Saudi Arabia over phone.