Jeddah, Nov 20: The Indian community of Karnataka state residing in Jeddah, KSA recently felicitated the Hajj, information and infrastructure development minister Roshan Baig at the inauguration ceremony of Karnataka Noble Trophy Cricket Tournament in Jeddah under the banner of Karnataka NRI Forum Jeddah and Jamiyyatul Falah Jeddah. The tournament is scheduled to begin from November 27 and conclude with the final match on December 5.
Speaking at the gathering, the minister appreciated the social activities initiated by Karnataka NRI Forum and Jamiyyatul Falah and said NRI people from Karnataka state have spread around the globe, hence the state needs public-private partnership (PPP) on various projects of the state government.
He appreciated the NRI community of neighboring state Kerala and said that it has set an example to the entire country. "Big businessmen and other NRI people invested in the state which remarkably brought up its budget and diversified development took place. Our people residing in various places of the world should think of their roots and come forward to develop their motherland," Baig said.
He further said, "The Mangaluru airport runway expansion project is a very big challenge and needs greater support from NRI community in PPP method."
He expressed his happiness in the resumption of Kuwait-Mangaluru flight, and mentioned theefforts put in by Mangalore MLA J R Lobo and others.
The gesture from the Hajj minister in the event highly motivated the gathered members, especially when Baig ask them, "What are your problems which you face in this part of the world? How do you expect the state government to help in solving your problems?" Anticipating support from the minister, several problems were put forward and were addressed accordingly by him. Baig also highlighted the new schemes and developmental projects initiated by the state government recently.
The following are the some of the main issues addressed by Baig: Direct flight from Mangaluru to Jeddah and Riyadh, CET facilities to NRI students, Expansion of runway at Mangalore International Airport, Nitaqat issues in Jeddah, Support services from Consulate office in Jeddah extended to Kannadigas, Harassment faced by Gulf-bound passengers at Bengaluru international airport, Acceptance of Indian passport issued outside India at government offices as address proof, Promotion of state tourism and medical tourism in KSA, Aim to start overseas affairs ministry under the state government, Functioning of NRI Community Welfare Cell, State government schemes for blue collar labour category NRIs.
The minister thanked custodian of the two holy mosques King Abdullah and the authorities of the government of Saudi Arabia for giving him opportunity to attend Gusle Kaaba for the third time and said he would be always available to help and sort out the problems of NRIs whenever they approach him.
Roshan Rodrigues, president of KNRI forum officially welcomed the minister and highlighted the aims and objectives of Karnataka NRI Forum and Jamiyatul Falah which is striving hard to help the poor and needy persons in Karnataka in education and medical treatment. He also informed the chief guest about the problems faced by Kannadigas which were resolved by KNRI Forum during Nitaqat with the help of the Indian Consulate.
Ex-president of the KNRI Forum Mohammed Mansour and president of Jamiyatul Falah Mohammed Shafi honoured the chief guest with a bouquet as a token of appreciation. Mansour requested the minister to intervene and make necessary arrangements for direct flight from Jeddah to Mangaluru.
On behalf of KNRI Forum and Jamiyatul Falah, the vote of thanks was delivered by general secretary Syed Nasir Khursheed. He thanked Roshan Baig for sparing time with Karnataka community, and expressed deep sense of appreciation for the efforts of Zameer Shaha, Waseem Ahmed Khan, Saleem Ahmed Khan, Syed Shakeel Ahmed and Mukkaram Ahmed Khan for making necessary arrangement for the event. Shaikh Saoud, coordinator of KNRI Forum conducted the programme.
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