Hyderabad: The Telangana Government has initiated support measures for Telugu citizens facing difficulties in certain Middle East countries, with Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir confirming that authorities are closely tracking developments and coordinating with the Centre and Indian diplomatic missions.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has instructed officials to maintain continuous monitoring and coordination so that Telangana residents in affected West Asian countries receive timely assistance.
Control room support for Telugus stranded in Middle East
Senior officials posted at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi remain in regular contact with the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian embassies in the region. Therefore, the coordination mechanism has already been activated to respond quickly to distress calls from Telangana citizens.
To assist affected individuals and their families, the State Government has established a 24×7 Control Room at Telangana Bhavan. The facility will gather information about stranded individuals and coordinate with relevant authorities for assistance.
Officials stated that the Control Room will function as the main point of contact for Telangana residents facing difficulties abroad as well as families seeking updates about relatives.
The round-the-clock helpline is being managed by the following officials:
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Smt. Vandana Barua – +91 98719 99044
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Sri C.H. Chakravarthi – +91 99583 22143
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Sri Javed Husain – +91 99100 14749
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Sri Rakshit Naik – +91 96437 23157
Shabbir Ali said the Telangana Government stands firmly with its citizens and will extend assistance whenever required. He also advised residents from Telangana in the affected region to remain in contact with Indian embassies and use the helpline for support.
He also referred to earlier initiatives aimed at supporting migrant workers. During his tenure as Minister for NRI Affairs in the undivided Andhra Pradesh government, several steps were taken 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. Free air tickets were arranged to bring them back to India.
Similarly, in September 2008, about 45,000 people were brought back home from Gulf countries through coordinated efforts of the State Government and Indian missions abroad. During that period, Shabbir Ali led a five-member delegation to examine the conditions of Telugu workers in Gulf countries.
He also said that around 10,000 workers were assisted in obtaining necessary documentation at the Abu Dhabi Immigration Centre.
The Advisor said these experiences helped authorities better understand migrant worker challenges and improve emergency responses. He added that the State Government would continue monitoring the situation in West Asia and extend assistance to Telangana citizens whenever necessary.
