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?

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
April 18,2020

Mangaluru, Apr 18: Sauharda Forum in Moodbidri has placed a food-counter stand near Krishnakatte in Moodbidri here to feed the hungry during the lockdown.

Due to strict implementation of lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19, shops and hotels have remained closed since last one month posing a huge difficulty for many.

Stranded migrant labourers and others can collect water bottles, fruits, biscuits, and other eatables free of cost by the people at the stand.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
January 6,2020

Bengaluru, Jan 6: Students and teachers from various colleges in Bengaluru gathered at the Town Hall in the city to protest against the violence which broke out at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) campus in New Delhi on January 5.

The students raised slogans against Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi Police.

Placards that read 'The more you attack, the stronger we become', 'Take off your masks terrorist', 'With JNU' were seen during the protest.

"We are here to protest against the incident that took place at JNU with our brothers and sisters. What Delhi Police did was shameful and they should have taken charge of the situation long before and not waited for three hours. We stand with JNU," Nisha, a protestor told ANI.

Professors present at the protest expressed regret over the incident and said attacks on the universities is a sick situation in the country.

"This is sick, where have we come to -- violence in the universities? I was so safe when I was studying in college; what we are giving to our students is horrible," said Sangeeta, a professor present at the protest.

Politicians, cutting across party lines, have condemned the attack on students in JNU and demanded strict action against those found guilty.

More than 18 students were taken to the AIIMS Trauma Centre after a masked mob entered the JNU campus and attacked them and some professors with sticks and rods.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
February 28,2020

Mangaluru, Feb 28: Sleuths of Bajpe police station have busted a counterfeit currency racket and arrested two persons on charge of printing and circulating fake currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 200.

The arrested have been identified as Dheerendra (45), a resident of Kanjilakody House in Bantwal taluk, and Sudheer Poojary (44), a resident of Adyar Volabail. Both of them said to be activists of Hindutva groups and had campaigned for BJP during last Lok Sabha polls.

Apart from counterfeit currencies, the cops have recovered a colour printer, two mobile phones and a motor bike from the accused.

According police, on February 23 the miscreants went to a petty shop owned by one Abdul Salam near Suralpady and purchased a Gillette blade costing Rs 20. They handed over Rs 200 currency note to Abdul Salam and took Rs 180 back from him.

However, the shop keeper grew suspicious about the genuineness of Rs 200 note. When he went in search of the duo, he came to know that they had purchased mustard seeds from a nearby provision store belonging to one Muhammad Arif. There too, they had handover Rs 200 fake note and got change.

The duo then took fake notes back from Abdul Salam and Muhammad Arif and escaped. The next day, Abdul Salam filed a complaint with Bajpe police station.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.