Helped out 14 lakh Indians in Saudi Arabia: MEA

Proactive campaign among Indian expats helped impress upon them the need to have proper visa and work documents

The government on Wednesday claimed that its proactive policy in Saudi Arabia helped avoid the deportation of 14 lakh Indians who managed to get their work documents regularised before the second deadline ended on November 3.

“We used the available time very effectively. Our embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah launched a major scheme to sensitise Indian nationals. This is an untold success story for India,” Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Mridul Kumar, told newspersons here.

While 1.3 lakh Indians had to return, India campaigned among its expatriates in Saudi Arabia to impress upon them need to have proper visa and work documents. The government engaged intensively with the parents of about 50,000 children studying in 10 Indian schools in Saudi Arabia.

“While several countries have asked for yet another extension of the deadline of the Nitaqat policy, we did not do so because we ensured the orderly return of 1.3 lakhs and regularisation of over 14 lakhs without any one knowing about it.”