Saudi Gazette report HYDERABAD — Non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the Gulf countries and elsewhere will be provided all assistance when they come back home after retirement, deputy chief minister of Telangana said here recently. At a meeting to discuss the issues and problems being faced by the NRIs from Saudi Arabia, other Gulf states and the United States, Mohammed Mahmood Ali said all Indian nationals working abroad are an asset to the state and the government is committed to help them when they retire on the lines of policies set by Kerala state. This was the first of its kind meeting when a senior state government official met a group of NRIs to discuss and understand the problems they face upon returning home. Mahmood Ali urged NRIs from Telangana to help the nascent state by investing in various government projects. Telangana was recently carved out of Andhra Pradesh to become the 29th state in the Indian Union. He reiterated that Chief Minister Telangana K. Chandrasekhar Rao was very serious and keen on the development and welfare of NRIs and providing education and other facilities to their children. He promised that the Telangana government will establish an industrial park and a housing colony for NRIs. He also declared Arif Qureshi as the seniormost NRI of Telangana in Jeddah. Many prominent community members from Saudi Arabia, other Gulf countries and the US attended the meeting and also addressed the gathering. Arif Qureshi, president Indian Cultural Society Jeddah and Bazm-e-Osmania presented a memorandum to the deputy chief minister and highlighted some important issues pertaining to NRIs like education, housing and medical help along with pension schemes for those returning back home. Mohd. Shameem Kausar, trustee Khak-e-Taiba Trust, in his speech requested the deputy chief minister to establish a degree college in Jeddah. Aijaz Ahmed Khan, another trustee of Khak-e-Taiba Trust emphasized on establishing an NRI colony or to provide subsidy on land. He also suggested establishment of an NRI cell in Saudi Arabia and other countries too. Prominent Congress members Mohammed Khaleequr Rehman and Jabir Patel also addressed the gathering and highlighted the problems of NRIs. Mirza Qudrat Nawaz Baig compered the program and Iqbal Khan, Mohsin Ali, Azeem Ullah, Zahoor Baig, Jyoti Reddy and Dr. Haseebullah were among the attendees.
