Andhra Pradesh government to bring back distressed Telugus from Gulf countries
VIJAYAWADA: The State government will make all arrangements to bring back the distressed Non-Resident Telugus (NRTs) working in the Gulf countries. The AP NRT officials have already discussed the issue with the Ministry External Affairs (MEA).
More than two lakh people from the State are residing in the Gulf countries like UAE, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Most of them are unskilled labourers from East Godavari, West Godavari, Srikakulam, Kadapa and Kurnool districts. According to AP NRT Department (Register Numbers Data), over 15,500 people from the State are residing in the Gulf countries.
It is believed that many of them living in the Gulf countries are unable to contact their family members here while some of them have succumbed to severe health problems. There are many complaints that the workers have been forced to do more work at low wages.
Even many women are being harassed by the employers as they are unable to raise their voice or escape. Some of them are facing health issues due to the extreme weather condition in Gulf countries.
Migration of India representative Amit Bhardwaj said that the migration of job seekers to Gulf countries has been reduced after the Gulf-war and even more so recently.
According to a survey conducted by the Institute of Migration of India, many workers who are leaving for the Gulf countries are facing many problems from their employers, travel agencies and brokers who are luring the innocents for money. In fact, many of them were sent to the agencies on tourist visas, putting them in hardships in an alien country.
In case any of the relative of the NRT complains to a local police station in AP or the NRT himself moves the Indian ambassador in that country raising their problems, then the Ministry of External Affairs and AP NRT will make efforts to bring them back.
If any complaint received, AP Non-Resident Telugu Affairs Department Minister Kollu Ravindra will coordinate with the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassy in the particular Gulf country and help him/her return to Andhra Pradesh. Ravindra said that a call centre will be launched exclusively for the purpose.