Over 10K Indians facing food scarcity in Saudi Arabia: Swaraj

July 31, 2016

swarajNew Delhi, Jul 31: In a humanitarian crisis, over 10,000 Indian workers in Saudi Arabia are facing severe food shortage due to financial hardship after losing their jobs and the government has ordered its mission in the Gulf nation to provide food to them besides other assistance.

Late in the evening, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj appealed to 30 lakhs Indians in that country to help their "fellow brothers and sisters", asserting that there is nothing "mightier" than the collective will of the Indian nation.

"We have asked @IndianEmbRiyadh to provide free ration to the unemployed Indian workers in Saudi Arabia," she said in a series of tweets. Swaraj said Indians in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were facing various problems relating to their work and wages and that the "matters are much worse" in the former.

Her initial response came following a tweet by a man who said around 800 Indians were starving for the last three days in Jeddah and sought her intervention.

However, later, she said "The number of Indian workers facing food crisis in Saudi Arabia is over ten thousand. It is not 800 as is being reported." Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh will soon travel to the Gulf nation to assess severity of the problem and try to resolve it.

"I assure you that no Indian worker rendered unemployed in Saudi Arabia will go without food. I am monitoring this on hourly basis," she said. Swaraj said a large number of Indians have lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait and that their employers have not paid wages and closed down their factories.

"As a result our brothers and sisters in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are facing extreme hardship," she said, adding while the situation in Kuwait is "manageable", matters are much "worse" in Saudi Arabia.

Swaraj said MoS external affairs M J Akbar will take up the issue with Kuwait and Saudi Arabian authorities. "My colleagues @Gen_VKSingh will go to Saudi Arabia to sort out these matters and @MJakbar will take up with Kuwait and Saudi authorities."

The Indian Consulate officials have already left for a highway camp near Jeddah where hundreds of workers need assistance.

The Consulate, in association with the Indian Community in Jeddah, has already distributed 15,475 kgs of food stuff and other items.

"I appeal to 30 lakhs Indians in Saudi Arabia. Please help your fellow brothers and sisters. There is nothing mightier than the collective will of Indian nation," Swaraj said.

Comments

Ash
 - 
Sunday, 31 Jul 2016

Dear Saudi Brother & Sister...

As our external Minister asking for offering help with 3 millions residing in saudi arabia if everyone will make Little contribution i bet u 100 % resolution will there for resolving problems.. dont be greedy please help our own people of india,.. atleast basic food & shelter.....

GOD will surly reward u for helping need person,,,when they really need ur help to survive

Shaad
 - 
Sunday, 31 Jul 2016

Appreciate her initiate and only Minister working in Modi govt.
Unfortunately she doing all the works India itself since PM on world tour.

Rasheed M P
 - 
Sunday, 31 Jul 2016

INDIA need more Great leader like Sushmaji. She is doing great job. NRI's feeling safe because of her. Big salute her.

Ashraf
 - 
Sunday, 31 Jul 2016

She is being doing wonderful job,.. Atleast putting efforts and trying to resolve issues facing by NRI in overseas ..Its a great move.. people are getting awareness , that Indians are facing tough situation who lost thier job. let us all pray for our brother & sister to come out from situation easily .. AMEEN

Satyameva jayate
 - 
Sunday, 31 Jul 2016

Ask indian embassy to do some ....send funds first for action....
Also do something about the food crisis within our country..

Irfan Mohd
 - 
Sunday, 31 Jul 2016

Bhai Ashish Thailand

She is the external affairs minister. She is doing her job.

And regarding food problems within india, please ask ur PM about it.

Thanks

Ashish
 - 
Sunday, 31 Jul 2016

Madam,
U r doing a great job. Over millions of people facing food problems within India.. What is the plan of action?

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News Network
January 8,2020

Mangaluru, Jan 8: The Muslim Central Committee of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi, has finally received green signal from the city police to hold an awareness meet against CAA, NRC and NPR on January 15, but on the outskirts of the city.

The Committee, which is a kind of umbrella body of Muslim organisations of the two coastal districts, had twice cancelled its planned protest against the same at Nehru Maidan, in the heart of the city due to permission denial by the city police. 

Addressing a press conference here today, Committee chairman, KS Mohammed Masood said that event will be held at Shaha Garden near Central Juma Masjid at Adyar Kannur.

He said that the representatives from the 28 different organisations unanimously finalised the date and venue after a consultations as the police refused to grant permission to hold the event at Nehru Maidan or Town Hall.

Representatives of various organisations including S M Rasheed Haji, Ibrahim Kodichal, B M Mumtaz Ali, Rafeeuddin Kudroli and Abdul Rasheed Zaini were present at the press meet.

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Abdul Gaffar Bolar
 - 
Thursday, 9 Jan 2020

They giving Permission for RSS Terrorists to make any programs in Nehru Maidan. Why don't for Muslims???

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News Network
February 6,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 6: The Kerala government on Wednesday said three foreign nationals were among the 2,528 people under observation in the state for the novel coronavirus infection and no new cases have been reported.

At least 93 people with minor symptoms of the virus have been lodged in isolation wards of various hospitals, state Health Minister KK Shailaja told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram.

India's three positive cases for the virus has been from the state's three districts of Thrissur, Alappuzha and Kasaragod.

All the three are students of China's Wuhan university, the epicentre of the virus.

"No new cases of coronavirus has been detected in the state today. At least 2,435 are under observation at home while 93 are in isolation wards at various hospital across the state," Mr Shailaja said.

The minister also said two foreigners have been quarantined in Ernakulam district and one foreign national at Thiruvananthapuram.

"The foreigner in Thiruvananthapuram has been kept at general hospital but not because he was showing symptoms but for observation as he travelled from China," an official said.

The health status of the three patients, who had tested positive for the virus, "remains satisfactory", the minister said.

After three cases were reported, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government had declared the epidemic as a "state calamity" on Monday.

The health department has issued advisories to the education, tourism and the animal husbandry departments on taking precautions.

"The students, teachers, other staff members residing with families of Wuhan/China returnees who are already in home isolation should not attend classes...," an advisory issued to the education department read.

Rajan Khobragade, Principal Secretary (Health), said the health department has directed the District collectors to hold a meeting with the religious leaders of the district to create awareness during prayer meetings.

"We have directed district collectors to meet religious leaders and talk to them about the seriousness of the situation and create awareness among them and their followers on how to contain the spread of virus," the minister said.

Mr Shailaja also said the department got messages from some Kerala students studying in China, who returned to the state after the virus outbreak, that their Universities had asked them to return and attend classes.

"We have got some messages from the students that they were being recalled by the universities in China. We discussed the matter and it was decided that the centre will contact such universities and convey the message that it was not possible to send the students back to China until the epidemic was under control," the minister said.

Mr Shailaja also said even though there were no positive cases for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, the state needs to remain vigilant and reiterated the 28 days quarantine period for those returning from China.

Of the 2,528 people under observation, the maximum number is from Malappuram (383), followed by Ernakulam (333), Kozhikode (306) and Thrissur (241).

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News Network
April 10,2020

Kasaragod, Apr 10: Eleven people died so far in Kerala's northern district Kasargod as they could not access medical facilities in Mangaloru since the border roads were blocked by the Karnataka Government, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said.

Addressing a press conference at the Government Secretariat here, the Chief Minister said, "It is really unfortunate that people from Kasargod district in Kerala are still being denied treatment in hospitals at Mangalore in Karnataka State."

"We will improve the medical facilities in Kasargod and if necessary, patients will be airlifted to the neighbouring districts in Kerala to provide emergency medical assistance," he added.

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