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
what the hell man!!
modi fan ask your mother what has congress done so far, you would be born to british pig if congress not fought for our beloved country, you are the biggest traitor, am assamed of you.
may be you born to them god knows
Muslim rajya after 50 year & you will be minority...pack your bag now itself to nepal..
but we muslim always respect the minotity or majority irrespective of cast,.
hindu, muslim, crist all people are belong to one GOD.
they we leave peacefull life after india become muslim country. mark my word very soon
I appreciate mewani. only dalits grassroot leaders can understand pain of fellow caste men.... dalits should understand this , instead of following uppercaste ring leaders , should think their empowerment thru themselves or thru with the support of like minded parties and by aligning with the people those make you to suffer since centuries...
Young Mevani is a respectful Leader!
Dalits must stand in Solidarity with the oppressed people of India.
Who the hell are you Mevani ? What locus standi do you have in our State Karnataka. To hell with you and your Urban Naxalites. You can keep on ranting and spewing your venomic diatribes against the Nationalists. We people of Karnataka will only dismiss you with the contempt you deserve. We are ready to confront you on every possible forum. This fight between you and the patriots are not going to be restricted to electoral battles. We will fight you on principles and ideologies. You might have won your election with the tacit support of the Congress. You and your ilk will face your waterloo in Our Karnataka.
Just to encroach votes and to grab the power chair, these traitors are dividing people based on caste and religion. If they are so generous let them shell out from their pockets throughout the year to each family..why just during election time? When I am standing and breathing in this land we should respect this India. Don't bark like mad street dogs, rather go help people who are really suffering being poor. Don't bring your propaganda for political gain and power !!!! and I belong to lower caste but I am Indian first
you want Congress? are you brainless? What has Cong done since independence? why the country is still like this? only an idiot would help Cong come back in the center. Rahul is a joke..
Kannadigas, Wake up and Be aware! Very shortly you are likely to be overrun by a pretender called Mewani that only talks about dalit cause, but himself hobnobs with the New Delhi/ Congress elites. He did not even visit the families of the dalits who were recently murdered in UP and Haryana, and also not reported by English media because "it did not fit their narrative". Several Hindi media covered the news story and also pointed out this hypocrisy of Mewani and others.
Another idiot who is portraying his unashamed personal ambition as a Dalit grouse! Another Kachadawal in the making. The original will bite the dust next time around; the new one will as well.
He said the same in Gujarat.. now in karantaka. No use actually. final result will be favour to BJP
I dont think so, Mr. Mevani can make big difference..! He is against BJP. BJP people are strong enough. May be BJP may give feeling of losing. But they are working hard behind.. They will do all the gimmicks. Through that they will "snatch" dalits and minority votes too
Whatever happen, there are still hardcore BJP fans.. They will do anything for BJP.. brainless people
BJP cant snatch not a single vote from dalits (if they have brain)
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