Thiruvananthapuram: In an embarrassment to the state government, the Centre on Thursday said it cannot issue diplomatic passport to Local-Self Government Minister K.T. Jaleel, who has been deputed by the cabinet to visit Saudi Arabia to help the NRKs stranded there. Top government sources told DC that the reason for the decision of the Ministry of External Affairs in this regard is not yet known. That the Centre was already dealing with the Saudi issue and Minister of State for External Affairs V. K. Singh had already reached Saudi could be a reason, they said.
It is learnt that the minister had specifically mentioned in the online application submitted on Wednesday for diplomatic passport that his visit was in connection with the crisis faced by NRKs in Saudi. The minister had earlier in the day told reporters that his application for diplomatic passport and visa was still pending with the Ministry of External Affairs and that it was expected to be ready by Friday.
He also said that he planned to visit the labour camps of Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam to know the real situations there and would convey the state's concern over the hardships faced by NRKs. He earlier told DC that he would also explore the options of getting re-employment for those facing job loss in Saudi Arabia in the same region itself or elsewhere. “The government would initiate further steps after assessing the ground realities,” he said. The minister also said that the government was finalising a comprehensive rehabilitation package for Gulf returnees. The finance department was preparing the package.
Norka-Roots’ ceo still on long leave
At a time when overseas jobs are in serious trouble, the Norka-Roots remains headless. Its recently appointed CEO V. Bhooshan, who was on deputation from the Secretariat, is on extended leave, but sources said he was forced to go for incompetence. “It was in a bad shape for many months,” a former official of the agency told DC. “(Being the leading recruiter) it should have actively canvassed nursing jobs.” Meanwhile, former minister K.C. Joseph questioned deputing LSG minister K.T. Jaleel and an official under him to Saudi Arabia, instead of Norka.
