Hyderabad: The Telangana Government has initiated support measures for Telugu citizens facing difficulties in certain Middle East countries. Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir said authorities are closely tracking developments. They are also coordinating with the Centre and Indian diplomatic missions.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy instructed officials to maintain continuous monitoring of the situation. He also directed them to coordinate with central authorities. The aim is to ensure timely assistance for Telangana residents in affected West Asian countries.
Control room support for Telugus stranded in Middle East
Senior officials posted at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi stay in regular contact with the Ministry of External Affairs. They also coordinate with Indian embassies in the region. As a result, the government has activated a response system for distress calls from Telangana citizens.
To support affected individuals and their families, the State Government set up a 24×7 Control Room at Telangana Bhavan. The facility collects information about stranded individuals. It also coordinates with relevant authorities to arrange assistance.
Officials said the Control Room will serve as the main contact point. Telangana residents facing difficulties abroad can reach out to it. Families seeking updates about relatives can also contact the helpline.
The round-the-clock helpline is being handled by the following officials:
Smt. Vandana Barua – +91 98719 99044
Sri C.H. Chakravarthi – +91 99583 22143
Sri Javed Husain – +91 99100 14749
Sri Rakshit Naik – +91 96437 23157
Shabbir Ali said the Telangana Government stands firmly with its citizens. He assured that the administration will provide assistance whenever required. He also advised Telangana residents in the affected region to stay in contact with Indian embassies. In addition, he urged them to use the helpline for support.
Previous initiatives to support migrant workers
Shabbir Ali also recalled earlier initiatives to support migrant workers. During his tenure as Minister for NRI Affairs in undivided Andhra Pradesh, the government launched several measures to address issues faced by overseas workers.
In October 2007, the government facilitated the return of 1,241 immigrants detained in the United Arab Emirates due to documentation issues. Authorities arranged free air tickets and helped them return to India safely.
Similarly, in September 2008, the government helped bring back about 45,000 people from Gulf countries. State authorities worked closely with Indian missions abroad to complete the operation. During that period, Shabbir Ali also led a five-member delegation to study the living conditions of Telugu workers in Gulf countries.
He further said authorities assisted around 10,000 workers in obtaining documentation at the Abu Dhabi Immigration Centre.
According to Shabbir Ali, these experiences helped officials understand the challenges faced by migrant workers. As a result, authorities improved their response systems for emergencies. He added that the Telangana Government will continue monitoring the situation in West Asia and provide support to its citizens whenever necessary.
