Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

Gulf NRIs submit memo to CM

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD Feb. 15. The NRIs Gulf Forum has demanded an exclusive ministry at the Central and State levels to look after NRIs interest. On the lines of Kerala, the State Government too should nominate a minister to deal with NRI issues, said S.A. Ziauddin, president, NRIs Gulf Forum.

He told presspersons here on Saturday that a memorandum listing the demands of NRIs based in six Gulf countries was handed over to the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu. The latter, who wields lot of influence over the NDA Government, would be able to resolve the genuine problems faced by them, Mr. Ziauddin hoped.

There were about 3.5 millions Indians working in the Gulf countries. Of them 3.50 lakh were from Andhra Pradesh. The annual remittances of the Gulf NRIs were $ 8 billions and of this $ 1 billion went to Andhra Pradesh. As against this NRIs of 100 other countries remitted hardly $ 1 billion. Investment-wise, the Gulf NRIs contributed about $ 5 billions and held assets worth $ 22 billions in India. Yet the Government of India did not recognise the Gulf NRIs, Mr. Ziauddin said.

Unlike other countries, the NRIs in the Gulf faced an uncertain future. They could not obtain permanent citizenship nor own any assets. At any moment they could be asked to check off. If war broke out in Iraq, their position would become still insecure. In the educational sector too, their children faced many hardships. They have to study in Embassy schools or schools recognised by the CBSC Board. And after completion of 10 plus two, they have to come back to India for further studies. But here they were treated as non-locals and enjoyed only 15 per cent chances in admission.

Mr. Ziauddin urged the Government to allow the NRI students to take up entrance examination along with others. They should be treated on a par with the local candidates as the fee fixed for NRIs was very high. The question of local and non-local should be determined on the basis of the nativity of the parents and not the study period of the students.

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