Shabbir Ali assures support to Telugus stranded in Middle East

Hyderabad: Advisor to the Telangana Government Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Wednesday assured full support to Telugu citizens stranded in several Middle East countries due to the prevailing regional situation. He said the State Government is closely monitoring developments. It is also coordinating with the Centre and Indian missions abroad to ensure the safety of Telangana residents.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy directed officials to continuously monitor the situation. He also asked them to coordinate with central authorities. This effort aims to ensure timely help for Telangana citizens living in affected West Asian countries. Shabbir Ali said the State Government remains committed to protecting the interests of its citizens working or residing abroad.

Telangana government response for Telugus stranded in Middle East

Officials at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi stay in regular contact with the Ministry of External Affairs. They also maintain coordination with Indian embassies in the region. Because of this coordination, authorities can respond quickly to distress calls from Telangana citizens.

To assist affected individuals and their families, the State Government set up a 24×7 Control Room at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi. The facility collects details about stranded individuals. It also coordinates with concerned authorities to arrange assistance.

Officials said the Control Room serves as the main contact point for Telangana residents facing difficulties abroad. Families seeking information about relatives can also use this helpline.

The following officials manage the round-the-clock helpline:

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 extend assistance whenever necessary. He also urged Telangana residents in affected regions to stay in contact with Indian embassies. In addition, he advised them to use the State helpline when needed.

Earlier initiatives to support migrant workers

Shabbir Ali also recalled earlier initiatives to support Telugu migrant workers in Gulf countries. He said the welfare of overseas Telugus has always remained a priority.

During his tenure as Minister for NRI Affairs in the undivided Andhra Pradesh government, authorities launched several measures to address migrant worker issues. In October 2007, the government facilitated the return of 1,241 immigrants who were detained in the United Arab Emirates due to documentation problems. Authorities also arranged free air tickets to help them return to India.

In another major initiative in September 2008, the government helped nearly 45,000 people return from Gulf countries. State authorities worked closely with Indian missions abroad during this effort. Around the same time, Shabbir Ali led a five-member delegation to study the working and living conditions of Telugu workers in Gulf nations.

Officials also helped about 10,000 workers obtain necessary documents at the Abu Dhabi Immigration Centre during that period.

According to Shabbir Ali, those experiences helped authorities understand the challenges faced by migrant workers. As a result, officials improved their response mechanisms during emergencies.

He added that the Telangana Government will continue monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia. The administration will also provide assistance to ensure the safety and well-being of Telangana citizens living in the region.