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Evacuation of distressed Indians from Saudi Arabia planned

Evacuation of distressed Indian workers from Saudi Arabia planned

The government is planning the evacuation of hundreds of Indian workers stuck in Saudi Arabia following mass layoffs, according to a report.

 

According to a Hindu report quoting a senior government official that the government is “arranging exit visas for jobless workers”. The Minister of State for External Affairs Gen (Retired) V.K. Singh would be travelling to the Middle Eastern country to “bring back” the Indian workers.

 

The Ministry of External Affairs and Indian Consulate in Jeddah are working in tandem to secure their early return.

 

However, there is no confirmation, how many Indians would return home. 

 

The Indian government had to swing into action after reports of about 2,500 Indian workers starving in different labour camps emerged.

 

Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, Gen VK Singh and Minister of State of External Affairs MJ Akbar are constantly monitoring the situation.

 

If the returnees’ numbers go up, the Ministry might send a ship to evacuate the distressed Indians. The Indian consulate has arranged for food and other relief in labour camps. Indian officials are also trying to seek any pending salaries for the laid off workers.

 

Yesterday Ambassador of India Ahmad Javed and Deputy Minister of Interior of Saudi Arabia Ahmed Al-Salem held a meeting over the issue.

 

MEA Minister Swaraj has appealed to Indians settled in Saudi to help the fellow Indian workers. There are about 30 lakh Indians who are spread across Saudi Arabia. A large proportion of them is blue-collar workers.

 

The distressed workers are in such a situation due to a meltdown in construction sector following a consistent fall in oil prices.

 

This would be the third evacuation by MEA in past two years. In 2015 Indians were evacuated from Yemen following the civil war and more recently Indians from South Sudan were moved due to the sudden escalation of tension.

 

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