The unexpected lockdown to prevent spread of covid–19 has caused a serious damage to the lives of Indian expatriates irrespective of laborers and entrepreneurs in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Different stories of expatriates' ordeals are emerging from the region.
Abdul Razaq, hailing from Udupi in Karnataka has been running small scale business at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, based on oil refinery projects of the government. He was undergoing medical treatment for his cancer which is in fist stage. He explaines his ordeals caused by lockdown and stopping the flight facility.
“I was regularly visiting home country for the treatment of cancer. Now I cannot go as international flight service has been stopped. I expect that government will hear problems of expatriates and will arrange facilities to take us back to home”, he said.
Mubeen from Bengaluru was working on temporary basis for a company in Jubail. He had lost his jobs like some of his colleagues due to the lockdown.
“As everything was alright, I had brought my parents recently to Saudi Arabia on a visit visa. Things changed drastically with covid-19 attack. Continuous lockdown caused burden over the company and they removed temporary employees like me to control possible losses” he said.
“Now owner of the flat has been harassing me for the rent. I do not have money either to pay rent or to cover daily family expenses. I do not know what to do further”, he added.
Iqbal from Mangaluru left for Saudi Arabia to help his family. He got a job in a juce centre in Dammam recently. Corona lockdown made his life difficult. He is eager to return his home country.
“I came to Saudi Arbia because of financial difficulties as I had not found any job with good salary there. I thought I can earn well by going to Saudi Arabia. However, here too the salary was not so good. Now juice center is closed due to lockdown and sponsor is giving very small amount of money as salary through which we cannot afford our expenses and our families back in home,” he said.
“Here It is not easy get help of fellow Indians since most of them have their own ordeals. I would like to return home country; there however we can manage to get help of friends and relatives. I am looking forward the help of Indian government to start air facility for stranded NRIs,” he said.
Mohsin from Mysuru is a taxi driver in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. He was earning on commission basis. Now Saudi government banned movement of taxis in the region, which pushed him and his fellow taxi drivers into trouble.
“We were earning commissions daily on the basis of trips. Now we cannot move outside with taxi since it may cause us to pay the fine of SR.10000. How can I manage my expenses and family members in home?”, he asked.
There are cases of pregnant women who have to return India for delivery. Those who brought family here on visit visa will not have insurance. Delivery charges and any kind of medical facilities without insurance in Saudi Arabia is very expensive. Expatriate Indians with such problems are awaiting government's help.
“I had brought my wife on one year visit visa. Now she is pregnant and I have to send her back to home for delivery. If lockdown continues, it is difficult to send back and we have to spend big amounts for delivery without insurance. It is a big burden to me as I work for small salary in a company”, said Yunus from Hyderabad, who is living in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Lockdown is haunting even entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia. Most of expatriates in the industrial hub of Jubail are doing business based on Saudi Government’s oil refinery projects. Saudi Arabia temporarily stopped most of the projects as part of public health safety measures to maintain social distance.
“We are doing business based on oil refinery projects. Now projects are stopped. We brought around 1100 people on work permit visa on temporary basis. And also, we have around 1200 permanent workers. It is a big burden to provide them with food, accommodation and salary. It may cause a big loss for our company”, said owner of expatriates company, Sheikh Mohammed.
Saudi Arabia had reported first corona virus affected case in March 2, 2020. At the end of March, it was 1600 and now it already corssed 6000. Saudi Health ministry has cautioned the number of affected people may rise 10000 to 200,000 and directed for more precautionary measures. In such case, the Indian expatriates may have to face crisis in the region.
Indian expatriate organizations are demanding for immediate intervention of Indian government to ensure better quarantine facility and treatment of NRIs in Saudi Arabia as the cases are increasing rapidly. The condition of laborers in some of the camps are such that seven to eight people should share a single bed room.
“Normally if there is a flat, it will consist three to four bed rooms. In single bedroom companies will provide three four bunk beds and six to eight people should share the room. In such cases, if a person affected with virus it will spread quickly to others. Thus, Indian government should ensure quarantine facility for NRIs”, says Wasim Rabbani, president of Indian Social Forum, Eastern Region, Saudi Arabia.
President of Karnataka Non Residential Indians, A forum for the NRI organizations of Karnataka, Zakaria Muzain says Indian Government should immediately interfere to bring back those stranded NRIs who wish to return home. Government should intervene to pressure Indian embassy to take the issues of troubled expatriates.
“Government should make special flight arrangement for such NRIs in trouble. It should also arrange quarantine facility for those who return to India. Already there are many Non-Governmental charity organization which have come forward to give their facilities for NRIs”, he said.
NRIs from all categories are looking forward for the help of Indian government. It is important to Indian government to take quick action as the problem is increasing in Saudi Arabia.
Comments
\Hindutva activists raid Thomas School...\" is wrong caption
It should be, \"Hindutva Goondas Attack Thomas school ....."
Why you call these raid, Raid can only be done by government servants.
This is called Gondagiri, what the hell police is doing, arrest them.
I think as per this English should be banned as the language belongs to England.
If learning or teaching was illegal they would've spoke to the head master, or filed a case against the school.
For muslims ARABIC is first language, its the mother of all language.
hahaha look at their face and their dressing style! Their presence itself shows they are uneducated goons.. Hardly one or two guys may be passed 7th standard. All poor hindu guys are running up and down in search of arabic classes and gowmootra.. Upper class are enjoying every position in all indutries.. Poor guys.. Lage Raho..
Hi all the people of Mangalore,
Who r these people who haven't seen the steps of school and wanna dictate what is to be taught and what not? There are education boards set up for all these purposes. Where is Mangalore heading? Who has brainwashed these people? First those people should be acted as per law who leads such goons irrespective of religion? How can U expect a place to develop when U don't have a mindset for broader vision and tolerance? Anyone who speaks against some party becomes Anti national!!!
V r giving more important to Cows than Humans. If people of Mangalore unite at such circumstances, then law cannot be taken into hands by any groups, irrespective of religion. It's high time that we unite against such shameful acts.
Expats including non-muslims in gulf countries would have craved for knowing Arabic in their childhood because they know that they can have edge over others and would have got better pay in gulf. These people do not understand this. They are struck with some bad mindset which makes them to oppose anything associated with Muslims. It is difficult to learn a language later in life especially Arabic.
Uneducated goons don't know the value of languages..... moreover why sanskritbis taught in school....
Go maataas are in need of these sons in Gujarat where dalits stopped work.....go and serve the Go.......let's see how many patriots nationals from chaddi Canara sena will go....
Saffron TERRORISTS, not activists.
Many non muslim working in ARAB AND ISLAM Country for job purpose they have to learn ARABIC language and also english is foreign language are going to stop english language in school or in colleges this SRS are un educated so they fight ....
Arabic is an international laungage spoke widely in many countries. There are many million Christians , jews and other non Muslims for whom Arabic is mother tongue. In every gulf countries lakhs of non Muslim join Arabic language courses to get promotion in their jobs. In Kerala there are non Muslim Arabic teachers. These narrow minded uneducated ravan sena are defaming our district and country by their criminal acts. Law should take stern action against these anti social elements
Nayig yenchina gottu Limbeda uppad
These SRS goondas should know that, it was not compulsory.... Those who do not want to learn, they are free to keep away.... so, what is the issue ????? Look at the Words , that are taught, which are useful in daily life... like bank, airport, box, gooda angadi.... these are useful to those work in Gulf.... Bopanna KSA can throw some light on this issue.... Those who are interested , let them learn, others can SHUT UP...
RSS IS ONLY GOOD FOR THESE TYPES OF THINGS...
LET THEM SAVE THEIR MATHA COW IN ROAD FIRST...
should have banged arabic preacher :
these teachers dont have any other work, small children hardly study their 6 subject... in between arabic and other language to their head.
this unpaid shiva sena activists dont know the value of learning new things.
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