Riyadh, Sep 15: More than a million Indian workers in Saudi Arabia have corrected their status so far within the framework of the amnesty declared by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah last April, said Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, on Friday evening.
Rao disclosed this figure while launching a massive campaign with a pledge to help remaining illegal Indian workers correct their status or return back home before the amnesty ends on Nov. 3.
The Indian ambassador pointed out, “The statistics we have so far indicate that 359,997 Indian workers have transferred their sponsorships and 355,035 workers have changed their job titles.”
This is in addition to 466,689 Indian workers who have renewed their residential permits (iqamas) during the last five months of the grace period, the envoy added. Hence, the total number of Indian workers who have rectified their status stands at 1.18 million, he noted.
Rao was speaking at the launch of the second campaign which was attended by senior embassy officials including Sibi George, deputy chief of Indian mission and a large number of community leaders as well as hundreds of volunteers from Riyadh, Dammam, Buraidah, Al-Hasa and Alkhobar.
Rao revealed that “the embassy would set up help desks again at the airports and in community schools, as the grace period will end after a few weeks from now.”
Indian workers facing problems legalizing their status in Saudi Arabia would also be provided with the services of local attorneys to help them avert deportation or prison sentences.
He said that the embassy plans to set up a center in Dammam again to issue emergency travel documents besides a few other places, as and when required.
“We will again work round-the-clock and will follow up on each of the cases with the concerned authorities,” he added.
He called on Indian community leaders and volunteers to “rededicate” themselves once again to the objective as the grace period nears its end. “No Indian should stay illegal after Nov. 3,” he pledged, while calling on volunteers and institutions for their continued support. He pointed out it is urgent to spread awareness regarding the grace period to compatriots living in small cities, towns and villages across the Kingdom.
Rao urged all Indian expatriates living in Saudi Arabia to join hands in helping fellow community members who are still illegal.
The diplomat stressed that 466,689 Indians have renewed their residency permits, asserting, “These are the official figures I have received from the authorities in this country.” He added that the mission has approached by 88,737 individuals seeking Emergency Certificates, and a total of 5956 workers have collected their huroob passports from the embassy so far.
“The number of Indians who received final exit is also impressive, though still more work is to be done with this regard,” said Rao, while thanking King Abdullah and the Saudi government for rendering the necessary assistance to the mission and the Indian expatriate workers.
“Let me thank Saudi officials at all levels, who helped our people to correct their status,” said the diplomat. “They always had time to meet us, listen to us and initiate action on our several suggestions and requests,” he added.
Extending his appreciation to the volunteers for the services they rendered during the grace period, he said: “Your role as volunteers, as media personnel, as members of the school managing committees, as principals and teachers, as non-teaching staff in our schools, as parents, as students, as interpreters in various government offices has helped us to meet the challenges. I would also like to thank our female volunteers and the spouses of our volunteers for their contributions,” he added.
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