Charlie Appleby and William Buick team up to win the prestigious English Classic for the second time in three years following Coroebus in 2022
sports7 hours ago
Around 20,000 Indians in Saudi Arabia will avail the 90-day amnesty scheme to return home.
Anil Nautiyal, counsellor (community welfare) at the Indian embassy, said 20,321 Indian nationals had applied till Monday evening under the scheme.
A Times of India report quoted Nautiyal as saying that the Saudi government had set up an exclusive centre in Riyadh for Indian nationals who want to exit the country.
The embassy had appealed to all Indians staying in Saudi illegally to take advantage of the amnesty that is available in 21 locations across the Kingdom, he said.
A similar offer in 2013 was restricted to illegal immigrants in Riyadh and Jeddah only.
Around 1,500 blue collar workers from Tamil Nadu have also applied so far under the scheme. Most of the other workers who are availing of the scheme are from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
"The majority of applications we received were from blue collar workers wanting to return to India," Nautiyal told The Times of India. "The numbers are fewer than during the 2103 amnesty period but many families who overstayed now want to use the scheme to return. Volunteers are assisting embassy officials through the entire process. We have put up tents in the embassy and consulate for the Indians who have applied to fly back to India."
P Murugavel a native of Kallakurichi taluk in Villupuram district, who is now returning home, was quoted as saying in the report: "I have been through hell in the last four years, working for four different sponsors, most of whom did not pay me.
"The working and living conditions were harsh. I am thankful for the amnesty offer and that I am returning home even though I'm empty-handed and do not know what the future holds for me."
Nautiyal said Saudi officials are giving out passes (one-way travel documents the authorities issue to Indian nationals to travel back home in the absence of passports) and exit visas free of charge to applicants. While they are facilitating the exit process, the applicants have to pay the flight cost.
Charlie Appleby and William Buick team up to win the prestigious English Classic for the second time in three years following Coroebus in 2022
sports7 hours ago
A UNESCO report found that journalists and news outlets reporting on environmental issues dealt with about 750 attacks in the past 15 years
world8 hours ago
Here is everything you need to have in hand before you register for the procedure
uae8 hours ago
The discovery was made after Sharjah National Oil Corporation drilled a well
uae9 hours ago
Over 500,000 people, who are not on the taxpayer list are liable to file their income tax returns for 2023
world9 hours ago
From interacting with authors to learning computer coding, an adventure awaits at every corner
uae9 hours ago
HD Revanna and son Prajwal Revanna are facing a probe over allegations of sexual harassment by a woman who worked in their household
world9 hours ago
Alsuwaidi bagged a second gold for the Emirates in the Adults Male -56 Kg category as Thailand topped the medal table on day one
sports9 hours ago