Nitaqat: Centre turns blind eye to Saudi expats

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Centre has failed to address the problems and concerns of returning expatriates from Saudi Arabia following the recent implementation of " nitaqat" labour law, CPM leader and Rajya Sabha MP TN Seema has said.

Seema, in a letter to overseas affairs minister Vayalar Ravi, pointed out that the issues of the returnees were not properly addressed in the draft of the forthcoming Pravasi Bhartiya Divas (PBD) Conventions in January. Quoting World Bank, she pointed out that "India is perhaps the world's biggest recipient of remittances" from NRIs.

"But I feel sorry for most NRIs who feel that except the leaders' hollow praise on their toil and their contribution to their home country, the Indian government hardly addressed any of their perennial problems," Seema, an MP from Kerala, said.

Acute shortage of flights, exorbitant rate charges by airlines including Air India especially during holiday seasons and shortage of staff in Indian embassies are some of the problems faced by the NRIs.

Stating that the centre failed to work out any adequate rehabilitation package for the returnees, she wanted the government to bring out a legislation to curb the illegal immigration and fraudulent consultants.

The MP also urged the government to reveal the status of the NRI Welfare Fund announced in last PBD. Seema said though she had raised this issue in the Parliament recently, the government response in this regard was not very serious.