Organised by Ameeraga Tamil Sangam, the event had participants from across the UAE
The action of the External Affairs ministry came after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik sought her intervention for the safe return of the Odia labourers.
Sushma Swaraj asked the Indian embassy in Riyadh to inform the Chief Minister about the development in ensuring their repatriation.
"Embassy cognizant of it, vigorously pursuing with the Company and agent towards their repatriation; hope to send them soon," the Indian embassy in Riyadh tweeted.
Earlier, the Chief Minister had tweeted:
- Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 10, 2017
- India in SaudiArabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) May 10, 2017
At least 12 labourers from various blocks of Ganjam district had been to Saudi Arabia five months ago through an agent from Andhra Pradesh to work in Al Riyadh Construction Company.
Of the remaining workers, eight are from Andhra Pradesh and four from Tamil Nadu. They were taken to Saudi Arabia to work as plumbers. However, their passports were seized after two months of payment and they were allegedly exploited and given life threats.
- Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 10, 2017
- Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) May 11, 2017
Finding no help in the foreign land, the labourers sent WhatsApp videos narrating their ordeal to their family members. They sought the help of the government for their safe return to India.
In the meantime, the Ganjam district administration has launched a probe to gather information on the trapped labourers.
"We have collected information on 12 persons. As per reports, four are from Rangeilunda, three from Beguniapara and one each from Khallikote, Chhatrapur, Patrapur, Chikiti and Hinjilikatu," said Shiv Narayan Sahu, District Labour Officer.
Organised by Ameeraga Tamil Sangam, the event had participants from across the UAE
The esteemed initiative delivered essential grocery food baskets to around 5,000 deserving families across 14 Bangladeshi districts
Judges for the AI awards not only recognise excellence and innovation, but also assess performance and monitor progress in artificial intelligence computing and responses
A plea moved in court stated that no one is permitted to wear the official state institution outfit
Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso had been the favourite to succeed Klopp but has now committed himself to the German club after leading them to a first-ever Bundesliga title
Sheikh Hamdan joined the kids as they browsed through some photos that captured how they used broomsticks and helped their community
The family's furniture, household appliances as well as the books and stationery of the children were destroyed in the April 16 floods
The 22-time Grand Slam champion and his wife Maria Francisca Perello welcomed their first child together in October 2022