Let's not forget, 3 million Indian expats happily living in Saudi Arabia!

[email protected] (Coastaldigest.com Web Desk)
August 3, 2016

Jeddah, Aug 3: The Indian community in Saudi Arabia have condemned the one-sided and irresponsible reporting by a section of Indian media on labour issues between an ailing private firm and its Indian employees.

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Pointing out that about three million Indians including people from all faiths are working and living happily in Saudi Arabia, they said sacking of employees by some firms due to crisis is a rare case.

They expressed sincere thanks to the Saudi government for hosting such a huge number of non-resident Indians (NRIs), which not only constitute the largest expatriate group in the Arab Kingdom but also the largest number of Indian passport holders living anywhere in the world. They thanked the Kingdom for ensuring the safety and welfare of the Indian community.

Sadashiva Shetty, an NRI businessman from south Indian city of Udupi in Saudi Arabia, says that he did not face any discrimination in the Kingdom in past 20 years. “Nearly three decades ago, my family was one of the poorest families in my village in India. After coming to Saudi Arabia I have earned money and respect. Now, the people of my village give me royal treatment whenever I visit my home” he claims.

“I do not know why media is portraying as if all Indians in Saudi Arabia are starving to death,” wonders Siddiqui, an NRI businessman, who spent several years in Saudi Arabia. A few construction companies in the Kingdom have gone out of business due to financial constraints and it resulted in layoffs for workers of different nationalities, not only just Indians, he says.

Speaking to an Arab daily he said: “Private firms in India like Kingfisher, Sahara and many others went bankrupt and their workers lost jobs. Has the Indian government given them jobs? Forget about helping the workers, Kingfisher owner Vijay Mallya ran away from the country to evade loans repayment and the government failed to catch him.”

Abdulhaq Bastavi, an Indian IT expert, said there is no point reporting that Indians are starving or stranded here as they can solve the issue with the employer and go home. “In labour disputes, workers have the option of approaching the courts.”

Mojib Siddiqui, an Indian journalist in Saudi Arabia, claims that mainstream Indian media is planting stories on labour issues of Suadi in a deliberate attempt to shift the focus from their government, which is under fire for failing to stop violence against Dalits and Muslims. It's a ploy to appease the principal minority that they are concerned about Indian Muslims working in Saudi Arabia.”

He added: “If the situation had been alarming for Indian workers, how come remittances sent by NRIs from the Kingdom is highest?”

Mohammad Akram, a marketing head at the Saffat Aviation said the Indian media exaggerating the number to blow it out of proportion. “Laying off workers by an ailing firm is nothing new,” he said adding there are dozens of Indian firms firing their staff for financial reasons.

Comments

Irshad
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

There is a not a single Incident people killed because of eating beef or any thing else Great and Number one Saudi Arabia.

A. Mangalore
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

During my vacation , in my own city in India , after 10 pm , my car was stopped by the police and questioned several times, but in my 25 years experience , even 2 to 5 am , I was driving in the city along with my family, never ever any police man or anyone stopped my car and questioned me.
Like me thousands of Indans are earning with highest respect. We are much grateful to this country. Whatever our religious we are called here as \Hindi\" only.
Mrs. Susma Swaraj made one or two companies issue into a big
issue and mentioned that people are starving here. I don't think anyone will sleep here without food. If a person have 2 riyals is enough to buy 6 pcs of bread and youghurt , which can fill anyones stomach. people have made wrong propaganda.
In any cases Saudi nationals are more generous in distributing free food than any other countrymen."

shaji
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

Indian Media (there is exception) is only lying and fooling people to keep away from the failure of BJP Govt and from the goondagiri / terrorist activities by sangh parivar terrorist groups.

Sadashiva Shetty
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

Thanks CD for posting this report. It's timely. Everything has a positive angle too. Normally media ignores such positive angle.

aharkul
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

Best Country in Gulf is Saudi Arabia. We have freedom and no question of facing problem. And every commodities available in a cheapest rate. I am working in this country since 13 years. So far I did not get any problem either from employer or from this country.

I respect all the King who serve this country giving full support to Indian expatriates and security. It is a marvelous. We won't get such facility in any country. More over here we have a holy place to perform Umrah and Hajj. Subhaanallah. Hats off to our great king Salman who is giving good facilities to expatriate in utmost care. May Allah Subhanau Thala give him a good health and long life Aameen.

Tufail
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

but skilled and low level labors arent..... So please highlight those

Mohammed SS
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

Our India is going through such a bad era that they cannot solve their own problem, always peeping others plate, it cannot solve border problems and our eyes on Pakistan all stupid, Jobless goondas gathered in this BJP/RSS ruling they know only tying saffron ropes on hands and shoulders and all kind of nonsense believe, finally they only recognize their Mother as Cow and do not agree and recognize their own father to whom they born an OXE

Syed Mohiudin
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

I am proud to say that I am also one among 3 million those who happily living in Saudi Arabia.

Rikaz
 - 
Wednesday, 3 Aug 2016

Saudi Arabia is a peaceful country...where they give first priority on security of expatriates...people love to work and make money over there...there is no restriction on beef eating....you can eat beef as much you can....no gou rakshakas.....super dooper.....

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Agencies
February 23,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 23: Bolstered by the Supreme Court's interim nod for the gazette notification of the Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal award by the Central government, Karnataka decided to allot funds for the drinking water project in the state's northwest region, an official said on Saturday.

"Funds will be allotted in the state budget for fiscal 2020-21 to complete the Kalasa-Banduri project across the Mahadayi river for supplying drinking water to the four drought-prone northern districts in the state," the official of the water resources department told media on anonymity.

As Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa also holds the finance portfolio, he has agreed to allocate funds for the project, held up for years in the legal battle with the neighbouring Goa and Maharashtra over the sharing of the river water among the three coastal states.

Yediyurappa is slated to present the state budget for the ensuing fiscal in the legislative assembly on March 2.

"We will resume the project work once the Centre notifies the award though it will be binding on the final outcome of the apex court's hearing the review petitions of Goa and Maharashtra against the Tribunal award," the official noted.

A division bench of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Hemant Gupta on Thursday passed an interim order on the Tribunal award, allowing the central water resources ministry to notify it for implementation and posted the case for final hearing in July.

The Tribunal on August 14, 2018 allocated 13.42 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of the river water to the southern state for irrigation and drinking water supply to towns and villages across Bagalkot, Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag districts, which are in the arid region of the Deccan plateau.

The four districts are about 400-550 km northwest of Bengaluru in the southern state.

Of the 13.42 tmcft water, 5.5 tmcft will be used in the river basin and for diversion into the depleted Malaprabha reservoir while the balance 7.92 tmcft will be utilized for hydel power generation instead of allowing the water to go into the Arabian Sea on the state's west coast through Goa.

Goa, which opposed Karnataka's demand for 36.66 tmcft, was allocated 24 tmcft, while Maharashtra got 1.3 tmcft.

The Tribunal assessed that 188.06 tmc feet water is available at 75 per cent dependability.

The three-member Tribunal is headed by Chairman Justice J.M. Panchal, Justice Viney Mittal and Justice P.S. Naayana.

The Union government had set up the inter-state Tribunal on November 16, 2010 for the djudication of the Mahadayi basin water allocation among the three riparian and contiguous states.

Goa and Maharashtra claimed 122.6 tmc feet and 6.35 tmc feet of the river water respectively.

The Tribunal, which commenced sittings on September 6, 2012, held 1,209 sittings for over 6 years.

Supreme Court senior counsel F.S. Nariman represented the state before the Tribunal to present its case.

The Tribunal's chairman and two members inspected the river basin area across the three coastal states from December 12-24, 2013.

The 77km-long Mahadayi or Mandovi river originates at Bhimgad in the Western Ghats in Belagavi district and flows into the neighbouring Goa through Maharashtra and joins the Arabian Sea off the west coast.

Though the river flows 29 km in Karnataka and 52 km in Goa, its catchment area is spread over 2,032 km in the southern state as against 1,580 km in the western state (Goa).

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 14,2020

Kuwait: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all sections of the community in Kuwait, hundreds of NRIs are stranded due to unavailability of flights to fly back home. Leaders of associations belonging to Karnataka state in Kuwait and other part of Gulf countries have initiated a collective effort to discuss the challenges and issues faced by Kannadigas in Gulf Countries during COVID-19 pandemic.    

Mr. Ramesh S Bhandary – President of Tulu Koota Kuwait and Mr. Rajesh Vittal KKK president along with Other Gulf Karnataka Association leaders held video conference meeting arranged by GULF NRI Forum with Hon. Chief Minister of Karnataka Sri B.S. Yediyurappa to discuss the issue of COVID19 in Kuwait.

During this video conference, association leaders briefly explained various issues, statistics of emergency cases which include pregnant women, Senior citizens, visit visa expired cases and urgent medical treatment requirement cases who wish to travel back to Karnataka.

Evacuation flights to Bengaluru and Mangalore from Kuwait and other Gulf countries, request for free airline tickets or free quarantine facility at Bengaluru and Mangaluru also requested during this video call.

Dedicated Covid - 19 Helpline number for Karanataka NRIs- Nominate One line Contact person in Karnataka to co-ordinates all Covid related issues of NRI.

Responding to leaders requests, B.S Yediyurappa promised to address GCC Kannadigas concerns during this humanitarian crisis.

On Behalf of Kannadigaru Dubai & KNRI Forum , Gulf Kannadigas & Gulf Karantaka associations leaders expressed the happiness with BS Yadiyurappa - Hon Chief Minister of Karnataka, Raghavendra Yadiyurappa - Member of Parliament - Shivamogga constituency, for hearing problems of NRI and giving assurance of immediate action plan to repatriate needy Kannadigas from Gulf region to Karnataka.

Video conference was attended by Karnataka association leaders of Gulf Countries.

Karnataka NRI  Forum Kuwait committee comprising  representatives of leading associations of Karnataka in Kuwait such as Tulu Koota Kuwait (TKK), Kuwait Canara Welfare Association (KCWA), Kuwait Kannada Koota (KKK), Buntara Sangha Kuwait (BSK), Billava Sangha Kuwait (BSK), KKMA Karnataka Branch , Indian Doctors Forum and Karnataka Muslim Welfare Association Kuwait (KMWA).

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News Network
July 10,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 10: The Karnataka cabinet gave its approval for "The Karnataka Contingency Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2020" to enhance the contingency fund limit to Rs 500 crore in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This will be an ordinance making one time enhancement in the limit as the government needs money to make payments immediately, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister JC Madhuswamy told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

Under the contingency fund, the government had room to spend up to Rs 80 crore without budget provision.

"...but this time due to COVID-19 as we had to give money to some sections that were in distress like barbers, flower and vegetable growers, taxi drivers, among others, we have decided to increase the limit to Rs 500 crore," Mr Madhuswamy said.

"As assembly was not in session and as we had to make payments to those in distress immediately, this decision has been taken," he added.

The cabinet today ratified the administrative approval given to carry out civil and electrical works to install medical gas pipeline with high flow oxygen system at district hospitals, taluk and community health centres coming under Health and Family welfare department in view of COVID-19.

The minister said about Rs 207 crore is being approved for this purpose.

It also ratified procurement of medical equipment and furniture for public healthcare institutions of the health and family welfare department worth Rs 81.99 crore.

According to the minister, the cabinet has decided to bring in an amendment to section 9 of the Lokayukta act, which mandates that the preliminary inquiry contemplated by Lokayukta or Upalokayuta should be completed in 90 days and charge sheeting should be completed within six months.

Noting that at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) cess was being collected, he said as the government had brought in an amendment to the APMC act, there was demand to reduce the market cess. "So we have reduced it from 1.5 per cent to one per cent."

Approval has also been given by the cabinet to bring Karnataka Vidyuth Kharkane (KAVIKA) and Mysore Electrical Industries (MEI), which are presently under the control of Commerce and Industries department, under administrative control of the energy department.

Other decisions taken by the cabibinet include deployment and implementation of "e-procurement 2.0" project on PPP at a cost of Rs 184.37 crore and ratification of the action taken to issue orders on March 24 to release interest free loan of Rs 2,500 crore to ESCOMs for payment of outstanding power purchase dues to generating companies.

The cabinet also gave administrative approval for setting up of an Indian Institute of Information technology at Raichur.

"Under this, we are committed to provide Rs 44.8 crore in four years for infrastructure," the minister added.

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