NRI policy: Activists form panel to intensify fight

HYDERABAD: Several organisations from city fighting for rights of Telanagana migrants working in the Gulf, met on Tuesday to assert the demand for the implementation of NRI policy, the draft for which was approved by the State government in principle. At the round table conference, representatives of organisations like ETCA, Telangana Gulf Workers’ Union, Migrants Welfare Association and Pravasi Mithra formed a Joint Action Committee which will continue the fight for the demand of NRI policy.

Out of 84,78,564 Indians who work in the Gulf, the estimated 10 lakh migrants from Telangana contribute to remittance in crores to the State fund every month. A migrants’ right activist Sunil Reddy said, “We don’t know why is there no official approval given to the NRI policy despite the fact that the government benefits so much from the influx of remittance.”

The members of the newly formed JAC demanded that the issue of Telangana migrant workers returning from Gulf finding themselves deleted from their family ration cards be rectified and an exgratia of `5 lakh be paid to the family of TS worker in case he/she dies in the Gulf. A rehabilitation programme for the migrant workers and insurance and other welfare programmes for Gulf returnees were among the other demands raised.

Activists Bheem Reddy and Devendra Reddy were among the other key participants at the meet. “Our plans for the NRIs are faulty. There is no elaborate plan to come out with a permanent solution for the Gulf victims,” said Bheem Reddy.