- TPCC’s NRI Cell holds all-party seminar on Gulf migrants
- Uttam demands Rs. 5 lakh ex-gratia for families of Gulf migrants
- Congress Govt will give Comprehensive Social Security for migrants: Uttam
Hyderabad, May 9: Accusing the TRS Government of completely neglecting the welfare of Gulf migrants, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said, if voted to power in 2019 elections, the Congress Government would allocate Rs. 100 crore in the State Budget every year for the welfare of Gulf migrants.
Addressing the All Party Seminar on “Gulf Workers Welfare – Role of the Governments” organised by the TPCC NRI Wing here on Tuesday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that there were nearly 10 lakh workers from Telangana State who are working in different countries across the world. These workers send remittances of nearly Rs. 1,000 crore a month to various banks from those countries.
“Despite those poor workers making so much contribution in boosting local economy, the TRS Government has failed to do anything for their welfare, although KCR, in his elections speeches, had promised Rs. 500 crore budget for Gulf migrant workers. He said the migrant workers were in a complete state of neglect and the situation is so worse that on an average two-three coffins carrying dead bodies of workers of Telangana were arriving at the international airport. Lakhs of workers have no guarantee of work or safety of their health and even their lives in the Gulf countries,” he said.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the TRS, in its manifesto for 2014 elections, has made many promises for the welfare of Gulf migrants. However, he said not a single promise has been fulfilled so far despite the conditions turning from bad to worse. He said irrespective of whether or not TRS honours its promises, the Congress party, when voted to power in 2019, will implement several measures to ensure safety and development of Gulf migrants. He said that the Congress party would provide an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh for the families who lost their bread earner in Gulf countries. He said thousands of workers were falling sick due to adverse work conditions in Gulf countries and many of them were returning home due to ill-health. He said there were several cases wherein migrant workers died within a few months after they returned from Gulf countries. Therefore, he promised that Rs. 5 lakh ex-gratia would be paid to the families of workers who die within one year after returning home.
The TPCC Chief also opined that names of Gulf migrant workers should be included in the voter list and ration cards. He said they should continue to get Arogya Sree (Health Insurance) benefit when they return home. He also promised a Comprehensive Social Security for migrants which include Life Insurance, Accidental Insurance, Health Insurance, Pension and Return and Resettlement Package. He said the package would be drafted on the lines of Kerela and Punjab. He said the NRI Department would be fully activated when Congress comes to power. He said the bank loans should be given to intending migrants and the expenses up to Rs. 5,000 for Medical Examination should be paid by the government.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said thousands of migrant workers from Telangana were languishing in jails of Gulf countries. He said that the State Government should provide legal aid and other assistance to those workers on immediate basis.
Former Assembly Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy, in his speech, said that the All Party Seminar was organised to pressurise the State Government to help migrant workers from Telangana who are trapped in Gulf countries. He said leaders of all political parties and others experts were being consulted to prepare a joint memorandum to be submitted to the State and Central Governments on the issues concerning Gulf migrants.
The seminar was also addressed by Telangana Joint Action Committee chairman Prof. M. Kodandaram, AICC Secretary R.C. Khuntia, ex-PCC President Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Leader of Opposition in Council Shabbir Ali, Deputy CLP leader T. Jeevan Reddy, ex-MLA Marri Shashidhar Reddy, TPCC NRI Wing president Dr. B.M. Vinod Kumar and other leaders. Several Gulf victims also narrated their experiences in the seminar.
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