Odisha Chief Secretary Writes To Indian Ambassador In Saudi Arabia For Rescue & Repatriation Of 33 Odias

Padeep Kumar Jena

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Chief Secretary Pradeep Jena has written to Indian Ambassador in Saudi Arabia Dr Suhel Azaj Khan urging him to take steps to rescue and repatriate 33 persons from the state who have no means to support them.

The state government has been receiving distress calls and messages from some Indian citizens employed in Saudi Arabia who apparently have been cheated by their employers, Jena said in the letter.

It is found that 33 of them are from Odisha while 10 others are from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, he said. The victims have sent a video narrating their woes after their employer left them to fend for themselves.

The Gulf Odia Society which wase pressed into service could contact the forlorn workers from Odisha and it is found that their Iquama (Visa) are not being renewed by their company owners (Qafeel), the letter said.

Further, they have not been paid salary and are deprived of basic amenities like food, water and medicines. It is understood that the above Indian citizens are working in M/s Hadi AlHammam Group, at Camp-47, Juaumah, Saudi Arabia, said Jena in the letter.

“”Your kind intervention is requested for their rescue and repatriation urgently,” the Chief Secretary added.