If we take a Non Resident Indian to be an Ant ….hardworking, peacefull and nose to the grindstone Perpetually ….the Govt of India and Ministry of External Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce and Trade do Benefit Hugely from such NRI Ants ….Right
ergo we have the Pravasi Bharati Divas …. the day NRIs are lauded and Felicitated and made much of …. But the Million $ Question is ….what is the MEAs doing about the huge number of NRIs coming back ...thanks to the Large Scale Layoffs in the GCC nations ….these are the Worst off as far as NRIs go …. specially the poorer NRIs staying in the GCC nations skimp on buying mineral water and many come back with renal failure issues ….. many live in isolation and develop psychological issues ….some get into a debt trap and take to Suicide as a way out ...some get jailed ….
there are humanitarian organisations ...spl NGOs working to help such NRIs incarcerated due to financial problems …. however what help is the Ministry of External Affairs extending to help the NRIs returning in hordes from the GCC nations …..
first of all the last drawn salary becomes the biggest Stumbling Block to such NRIs getting job opportunities in India ….the minute a potential employer hears that XYZ was the last drawn salary per month ….they prejudge that such a person will be less inclined to be Driven and Motivated at low levels of salary in the Indian scenario …. so instead of using a person’s experience and learning thanks to working in a foreign setting …..organisations Reject such applicants …..
the second factor that goes against such NRIs is their age ….if in their late 40s ….they are Rejected …. if in a Senior Position professionally ...they get rejected ….it is easier for the returning NRI to get a job if they were in middle management level …..even if the returning NRI agrees to work at a low level of income ….their work ethics and productivity gets doubted and the question of ….what will be an NRIs productivity and motivation to work at low levels of income becomes the reason for rejection ….
many NRIs end up without a source of income and since they did not belong to any industry in India ….they have Zero Clout or Unions working for them ….
My Question to the Ministry of External Affairs is that ...when such people were helping with the Balancing of Trade via Remittances ….they are welcomed and treated well …..But the minute such Assets become a Liability ….they are shunned by one and all ….no Ministry or Industry wants to be associated or linked with such ex-Ants aka NRIs ….
the Twist in the Tale happens when such folk have bank loans going on with Foreign banks operating from GCC soil …..and here is my Plea to the MEA to look into this matter Seriously …. the loans are given to NRIs by foreign banks at Simple Interest according to Islamic Banking Principles ….however the minute the NRIs touch the Indian soil the ROI levied by the said Foreign Bank ….HSBC in my case becomes levied at Compound Interest Rate which is a Violation of Islamic Banking Principles …
Ergo I Kindly Request the MEA to look into this matter and give help to NRIs returning home due to widespread layoffs in the GCC nations ….on one hand the Indian Economy is still Struggling and there are no jobs for Indians ….leave alone NRIs ….on top of that ...due to Exchange Rate going against the Indian NRIs ….the amount to be paid back gets doubled practically …..
Plus the constant harassment from Recovery Agents employed by foreign banks like HSBC ...going to the extent of not replying to emails and sending agents to knock on our doors and emotionally harassing ex NRIs …. this is Legally Not Right as Foreign Banks operating in GCC can Not send Recovery Agents to NRI’s residences ...it becomes a Police Case IF I choose to register a case against such agents ….the agent also informed us about payment for such police case in case we choose to Register a police case against such RAs like Bilkis …. the people working for this Recovery Agent do not read or understand mails written to them and keep reiterating the same thing over and over again ….
another aspect is that the Severance amount coming to such returning NRIs goes directly to banks and so instead of coming back with some seed money to start a small Start Up ….these laid off NRIs come home empty handed ….
the NRIs returning from the Gulf are being caught between the Devil and the Deep Sea ….and this needs a solution …. the Only Ministry that can help such NRIs--willing and able to work ...is the MEAs …. some help with job opportunities and legal aid to deal with Truant banks such as HSBC ...is my Humble Request
If Push comes to a Shove ….I will initiate a Class Action Litigation against banks and the industry ….then do not say you were not informed !!!!
