The Kerala Government has devised a three-pronged plan to deal with the crisis emanating from the Saudisation programme, Nitaqat, aimed at ensuring larger participation of Saudi Arabian nationals in their country’s employment, which would entail the expulsion of lakhs of expatriates including several thousand Keralites from there.
Explaining the plan to mediapersons in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said that its success would depend on Central assistance, on which assurances had already been given by Vayalar Ravi, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs.
Enabling as many Keralites as possible to remain in Saudi Arabia by arranging proper documents, ensuring facilities for the return of those who cannot stay on in Saudi Arabia and devising a rehabilitation package for those who come back from the Arabian kingdom are the three parts of the plan the Government has devised.
“We need Saudi Arabia’s help in this and it has already been sought. We have to respect the laws of that country. Malayalees are living in almost all countries in the world. They are living there peacefully because they respect the laws and cultures of those countries. likewise, we cannot question Nitaqat,” Chandy said.
Chandy hoped that some of the Malayalees in Saudi Arabia, who were facing the Nitaqat axe, might be able to stay on by arranging proper papers but there are many people whose residence there could not be legalised in any way. There was no other option for them but to come back, he said.
“They are ready to return but the legal hurdles for that are many. Most of them may not be having their passports with them as these would already have been handed over to the sponsors. We have devised a plan to give them some kind of permit cards with which they would be able to travel to India,” he said.
Malayalees coming in this category will have to contact the Indian Embassy in Riyadh or the consulates in Saudi Arabia. They would convey information on those persons to the Collectors in all the 14 districts in Kerala and confirmation would be sent back within 24 hours on the basis of which the permit cards would be handed over to them, Chandy said.
“This will be a hassle-free exercise. The District Collectors have to just confirm the identity of the person. All District Collectors have been informed of this. Also, special cells will open for this in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod, which would be the districts worst hit by Nitaqat,” the Chief Minister said.
Chandy said the Centre should bear the air travel expenses of those who would be returning to Kerala from Saudi Arabia because of Nitaqat.
The third part of the plan is rehabilitation of those who are coming back. A five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by State Minister for Non-resident Keralites’ Affairs KC Joseph would look after this in which Government officials, banks and the Centre would be involved.