The Indian Embassy in Riyadh will prioritize facilitating the deportation of illegal Indian women detained at deportation centers in Saudi Arabia, said Talmiz Ahmad, who arrived in the Kingdom last week to serve as Indian Ambassador for the second time, having previously been India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from January, 2000 to July, 2003. “I don't ask questions as to how these women arrived in Saudi Arabia and assumed illegal status. For me, a woman in distress needs help. No matter how she came to work here, my duty is to get her home,” said Ahmad, speaking exclusively to Saudi Gazette. He said that the majority of Indian women in distress in the Kingdom are illegal workers, who came either on Umrah or visitors' visas. They violated Saudi rules by overstaying, he said. “I am willing to provide the genuinely distressed workers with airfare to return home as well as some extra money for other expenses,” he declared categorically. As an ambassador, Ahmad said looking after the Indian community is as important for him as promoting bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia. Around 1.8 million Indian workers are living in Saudi Arabia. In his first briefing after his arrival in Riyadh, Ahmad explained to his colleagues that the Indian Embassy has two pillars: One is the promotion of bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia in political, economic and cultural areas, and the other is, the promotion of the welfare of Indian workers living in Saudi Arabia. “I want to convey to the Indian community through Saudi Gazette that community welfare is a priority and will remain so for the Indian Embassy. Not only are they (the promotion of bilateral relations and community welfare) two pillars but they also support each other,” he said. Indians living abroad are fortunate to have a Ministry for Overseas Indian Affairs, which is very cooperative and supportive, he said, adding that he would make every effort to reach out to the ministry and explore possibilities of working together. “Labor welfare is the common responsibility of both the Saudi and the Indian governments as the more contented the labor force, the better the output and more peaceful the work environment. Therefore, it is far better to prevent labor problems and grievances beforehand,” said Ahmad. In this context, he said, India is examining a proposal called “Pre-recruitment attestation”, which will be basically a scrutiny process for a request for recruitment of Indian workers before they are recruited from India. Under the process, he said, the applications submitted to the Indian Embassy to recruit Indian workers will be scrutinized on the basis of the wages, and the working and living conditions offered by sponsors and recruiting companies in Saudi Arabia. A model contract will be available with the Indian mission, and once it is approved, the recruitment of Indian workers will take place within the framework of the pre-recruitment attestation, Ahmad said. He lamented the fact that the employment contracts that Indian workers sign in India are sometimes changed upon arrival in Saudi Arabia. The proposed pre-recruitment attestation scheme that Ahmad hopes to implement in a year's time will do away with the practice of changing employment contracts. “This is a scheme that is very close to my heart,” he said. On promoting Saudi-Indian bilateral relations, Ahmad said: “We have ongoing problems in Palestine and Iraq, serious concerns relating to the rise of extremism and violence in Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly at their borders. Obviously, Saudi Arabia and India are two major countries in the region, which are neighbors and which share these concerns. And therefore, we need dialogue to ensure that we are able to understand each other's perceptions and to coordinate our policies.” Trade relations between the two countries are going well, he said. “Saudi Arabia continues to be a major factor in India's energy security. However, there is a need for strengthening ties between the two countries through investments and joint ventures. The potential in this regard has not been fully addressed,” Ahmad noted, adding that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries can emerge as India's strategic investment partners. “When one country invests large sums of money in another country, it is putting in place a strategic partnership, indicating that there is an acceptance that the two countries share the same interests and same concerns aimed at addressing the issues of the future as strategic partners,” Ahmad explained. “This is the mandate that I will be seeking to pursue in my tenure as India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia,” he added. On the proposed extradition treaty between the Kingdom and India, the envoy said it would provide an “umbrella for cooperation to bring fugitives to justice.” He said the treaty between the two countries basically pertains to the extradition of respective nationals, who have fled from justice and found a temporary sanctuary in a foreign country. He said the proposed introduction of the police clearance certificate (PCC) report for Indians coming to work in Saudi Arabia is not a new thing. A PCC report for a person who goes to work in another country is a normal requirement, Ahmad said. “The Kingdom should not become a sanctuary for people escaping justice in India. The PCC report indicates that the two countries are on the same side with regards to security interests,” he said. “I personally feel that issuing a PCC report is a positive development that will ensure that criminals do not find a safe sanctuary in Saudi Arabia,” added Ahmad.
