In order to build the confidence of NRI’s and to give some solace to their impending Social, Economical and Psychological issues, Minister for Overseas Affairs Mr. Vayalar Ravi announced to deploy more officials and support staff at the Indian diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia to help irregular workers and relaunch a pension program for Nitaqat returnees. Ravi made the announcement on 1st May while wrapping up his four-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
“I will exert all efforts to make sure that the diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states provide timely and effective services to the diaspora,” these thoughts expressed by Minister for Overseas Affairs Mr. Vayalar Ravi said in an exclusive interview to Arab News.
The latest statistics suggests the UAE and Saudi Arabia has the largest number of Indian workers in the Gulf.
According to Ravi, a total of 20 lakh Indians currently working in Saudi Arabia and about 18 lakh are in the UAE.
More than 8 lakh people from Andhra Pradesh are working in GCC Saudi Arabia. A large number of them are semi-skilled labours who are holding Aqama (Labour card) in one company and working in another company.
As the Saudi Government has implemented “NITAQAT SCHEME” in which approximately 50,000 (fifty thousand) people from Andhra Pradesh will be thrown out off their jobs and return back to India.
Approximately around 5-7 Billion Dollars (25,000-35,000 Crores) are annually remitted by these NRI from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and GCC countries to India.
When Arab News asked about the launch of the pension scheme for overseas workers, the minister said this novel pension plan was launched last year. But the scheme called the Pension and Life Insurance Fund (Plif) will be relaunched in the Gulf countries because a large number of Indian workers are not aware of the scheme. Under the pension plan, the Indian government contributes almost 50 percent of what the NRIs contribute toward their pension fund in case of men and almost double the amount for female members, Arab News reported.
This new pension and life insurance fund will enable the Indian workers to voluntarily save for their return and resettlement. “This pension scheme will protect the workers and it is also in the interest of the Indian government,” said Ravi. He pointed out that all nonresident Indians including those working in the Gulf are eligible for pension after the age of 55 and after they return back to India.
With special thanks to Arab News