Saudi Gazette report JEDDAH — Major findings of a research study focusing on various aspects of the life of expatriate workers who have returned to Kerala from Gulf countries will be unveiled at a seminar here. Speakers at the event will analyze the findings of the study, entitled “Status of returning Gulf emigrants of Kerala: A socio-economic survey 2013,” at the event to be held at Jeddah Golden Tulip Hotel Friday evening. The study was conducted by the Kerala-based think tank Sign Human Resources Development & Research Center (SHRDC), organizers of the event told a press conference on Tuesday. Prominent figures, including Sign's Chairman Panakkad Munawarali Shihab Thangal, Executive Director Rashid Gazzali, Vice Chairman Irfan Habeeb and Muhammad Alungal, chairman and managing director of Al-Abeer Medical Group, will address the seminar. The Jeddah event is the fourth in a series of promotional conferences in the Gulf states. Similar events have already taken place in Dubai, Doha and Muscat. A fifth conference will be held in Trivandrum, in Kerala next month. Speaking at the press conference, Habeeb said the 106-page report will be presented to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and other leaders of Kerala. The study was conducted by a 20-member research team among 1,200 families of those who have returned from the Gulf countries. Alungal Muhammad said the study gives insight into many social and financial problems faced by those who returned from Gulf states, whose number exceeded 1.2 million. The research was sponsored by Al-Abeer Medical Group. Sign's Vice Chairman Abdullah Darimi and Treasurer K.M. Abdullah, Program Coordinator Salah Karadan, and Muhammad Imran, media manager of Al-Abeer Group, also attended the press meet.
