State Govt to help Nitaqat-hit workers

Hyderabad, Nov 23 : Minister for Civil Supplies and NRIs’ Affair D Sridhar Babu on Saturday assured that the State Government would take all measures for the migrant workers who were hit due to Nitaqat programme in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Speaking to media persons after releasing a portal for NRIs and those working in foreign countries, the Minister said that the Kerela model would be adopted in helping the Nitaqat victims. Further, he said that a new portal has been launched wherein in all individuals from Andhra Pradesh, working in any foreign country, can register himself by providing his basic details. He said while it will be mandatory for the people from now onwards to upload their information on the portal before leaving for any foreign country, those already working in foreign countries can update their information. He said that the State Government was unable to help several migrant workers due to lack of database. However, this portal would serve as a database and the government would be able to extend its help, whenever required.

Meanwhile, sources say that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has approved the visit of Minorities Commission Chairman Abed Rasool Khan to Saudi Arabia to review the status of workers from Andhra Pradesh who were hit by Nitaqat programme. The decision to send an official delegation was taken following a representation given to the Chief Minister stating that more than 7,000 workers from the State were hit by Nitaqat. The delegation is likely to visit the KSA in the first week of December. INN