Media Release

Bengaluru, Jun 10: A delegation of Karnataka NRI Forum-Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, led by its president Roshan Rodrigues and cultural secretary Syed Shakeel Ahmed, met deputy chairman of NRI forum Karnataka Dr Arathi Krishna under the mentorship of Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo at Vikas Soudha, Bengaluru on June 6.

KNRI Forum Jeddah president Roshan Rodrigues handed over a letter requesting the higher education ministry of Karnataka to allow NRI students especially from Gulf countries to appear for CET exams like other students from Karnataka.

Roshan further explained to Dr Arathi that there are around five million Indians working in all the six GCC countries and around two million Indians working in Saudi Arabia alone. It has been proven time and again that nearly 90% of all Indians are engaged in labour and mediocre level jobs where the salaries are not very attractive compared to the present salary scale of government and private companies in India.

Since the economy of Saudi Arabia is now in recession period due to low crude oil prices, even the salaries are being revised downward by several local companies as well as government sector of Saudi Arabia.

Now, with this mediocre income, when the children pass their XII standard, through Indian Embassy schools, affiliated to CBSE, New Delhi, the children are not allowed to appear for state sponsored CET tests, especially in Karnataka, not even the meritorious students. They are told they should avail seats in professional colleges like medical and engineering under NRE quota by paying huge donations, which ranges from Rs 75 lac to Rs 1.5 crore, depending upon the college, course and state / district they choose.

With the kind of income mentioned above, an NRI will never be able to educate his children in professional colleges, the delegation said.

"How can these more than 80% of Indian workers who hardly can afford any savings, arrange such a hefty amount? This policy is purely discriminatory, arbitrary and anti-NRI. Further, certain states have adapted this NRI policy and certain states have refrained," they said.

Roshan Rodrigues requested Dr Arathi Krishna to do all that is necessary to scrap the policy of excluding NRI students from Karnataka state CET exams and give them an equal opportunity together with local students to appear for CET exams.

"Let merit be the criteria for both local and NRI students," he urged.

Several issues pertaining to the labourers working in Saudi Arabia were discussed, like the recent case of Saudi Binladin and Saudi Ozer company where the workers were not paid their salaries for more than six months, KNRI Forum Saudi Arabia fed thousands of workers for months, and handed over basic necessities in their camps, helped them go back to their homes by giving them airway tickets etc.

Deputy chairperson of NRI?Forum (Karnataka) Dr Arathi Krishna said the Forum has sought a budgetary allocation of Rs 10 crore towards realizing its plans.

Dr Arathi said the plans include setting up of database of NRIs from the state, followed by organizing pre-departure orientation programmes, 'Namma Ooru Namma Naadu', divesting powers over attestation of marriage certificates (of those couples going abroad) and authorization of job recruiting agencies, to name a few.

Substantiating the plans, Dr Arathi said that while there are over a million Kannadigas staying abroad - mostly in Gulf countries, there is no accurate database of the people from the state-origin abroad. Hence, it is imperative to create a database based on their jobs, skills among other distinct qualities.

Once the database is available, it is easier to hear their grievances with district-level committees too in the making. Similarly, pre-departure orientation programmes are essential to create awareness among the people travelling abroad for employment, who would be unaware of rules and regulations pertaining to those countries, she said.

There are instances of people landing behind bars due to lack of awareness of local rules and regulations. It is only later that they approach the dedicated offices seeking help in bailing them out from the problem.

Similarly, in the case of recruitment agencies, there are instances of contractors taking job aspirants for a ride, she said.

Dr Arathi Krishna promised to take up these issues with the chief minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah who is also the chairman of NRI department in Karnataka and resolve the above issues. In this regard the KNRI Forum has requested J R Lobo to liaise with the department concerned and advise us on the progress at the earliest.

Dr Arathi Krishna also promised to take up these issues with the ministry of foreign affairs and the authorities concerned.