New Delhi, Aug 4: In a diplomatic victory for India, Saudi Arabia has agreed to give exit visas to hundreds of jobless Indian workers there and will send them back home at its own expense.
Making a suo motu statement in Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said Saudi Arabia has also agreed to provide free medical facility and food to the Indian workers stranded in camps and also allow those eligible to seek re-employment with other companies.
She said her deputy and Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh was camping in Saudi Arabia since Tuesday evening and will return after formalising the arrangements for the Indian workers.
"I am happy to inform that the Saudi ruler has taken note of the plight of Indian workers... Saudi King Salman has instructed the officials to resolve the issue in two days," she said.
Saudi Arabia, Swaraj said, has agreed to the Indian government's request to grant exit visas to the stranded worker.
It has also offered to transport the workers to India. "Government of India will not have to spend a penny on that," she said.
The Islamic nation has also permitted workers to take re-employment if other companies find them suitable, she said, adding that before departing, the Indian workers will register their claims of unpaid salaries and other dues with the Labour Office of Saudi Arabia.
Indian Embassy in Riyadh will follow up with the Labour Office of Saudi Arabia to get all the dues of workers cleared, she said.
The Minister said the Saudi ruler has also issued orders to provide free medical and food to Indian workers lodged in the camps apart from all civic amenities.
Thanking the Saudi ruler, she said this was possible because of the personal and diplomatic relationship stuck by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Islamic nation.
Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad complimented the Indian and the Saudi governments for reaching a solution on the issue.
Also Read: Let's not forget, 3 million Indian expats happily living in Saudi Arabia!
Addressing Kannadiga delegates from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and other countries through a video conference, Dr Narayan also assured that necessary steps will be taken by the Karnataka government to provide free quarantine facility for those who cannot afford private quarantine in hotels or guest houses. The video conference was organised by coastaldigest.com.
Comments
ASH Mangalore rightly said ...............HUNGRY IN KSA ? Impossible
Food is very very cheap in KSA
and No one allow you to be hungry if he is aware ....
Madam Sushma Swaraj done great job by sending delegates to Saudi Arabia. Thank you Sushmaji for your great work. We need woman like you to improve our great country India. Please ask other goondas and sanga parivars to stop attacking poor people of the country in the name of Cow.
Cow is an animal and no one will pray for that. It is created by God and it should not be god or Gomatha. Please try to understand the reality of the religion.
Madam you have done lot of good work in your tenure. This is my humble request please stop the attacker and bring the new judiciary of punishment for this attacker in name of Cow.
Hope take the initiative step soon madam.
There is misconception that Indians hunger in KSA. None here without food, those who created this mess only because company issue and pay issue. Wheat have subsidy in KSA and very cheapest in the world so none can hunger.
Appreciate Sushma's initiate but those who going back India will be trouble because no job secure and none will take care those who return to India. They have better life here than India.
People take credit through social media and no one will aware there after life who returned to India.
Thank you Sushmaji for your effort. Great work. India need more candidate like you.
Media is spreading lies about Saudi Arabia....In Saudi Arabia, you don't need to spend much money for food...within few riyals you get nice lunch with good pieces of beef...what a country....these stranded employees will find good jobs around....King gave them full freedom to choose companies and transfer their sponsorship....
A sign that cheddi govt and cheddi members never appreciate. and never do themselves big help which saudi govt did and I remember they do here many times to the stranded jobless expats.
Cheddi and their news liars should stop spreading lies and start praising the Good works which may not be in seen the parliament or in the news channels in the future days.
Alhamdullillah...
That's the decision of the king... the most generous king in the world. Can Indian govt expects such a generosity form any other govt in the world? Saudi has provided jobs to over three million Indians, who are sending home billions of dollar to India every year. Am truly inspired by this divinely inspired generosity.
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