There are a total of 5,547 Indian workers belonging to fourteen camps which are being handled by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
"V K Singh has left for Jeddah via Dubai. His on ground assessment will determine the future course of action," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup told Sputnik.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, "As far as the number of affected workers are concerned — 4,072 workers belonging to M/s Saudi Oger in Riyadh in ten camps — nine in Riyadh and one in Damman, 1,457 workers belonging to M/s SAAD Group, Dammam in two camps in Dammam, 5 workers belonging to M/s Shifa Sanaya, Riyadh in one camp and 13 workers belonging to M/s Taiya Contracting, Riyadh in one camp."
"In addition, there are 2,153 Indian workers belonging to M/s Saudi Oger in six camps in Jeddah all of them have been provided with food by the Indian consulate. There are total of 7,700 affected Indian workers in twenty camps, the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson added.
Indians working in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are facing a severe crisis due to the closing of several companies. They have not been paid their salaries by their companies. The Indian Embassy is running a community kitchen for starving Indian workers.
Indian government is negotiating with the respective companies and the Saudi government to sort out the matter.
However, the strategic affairs expert believes that India should take a tougher stance regarding these Gulf nations.
"Sending food aid to the starving workers is not enough. India ought to consider cutting oil imports and other penal sanctions against Riyadh," International Affairs expert Brahma Chellaney told Sputnik.
