The villagers in Telangana’s Mannegudem village, in Jagtial District, held a protest on Wednesday where they were seen carrying placards during a funeral procession. The villagers protested with placards at the funeral procession of a migrant worker in Gulf who died in Saudi jail. They demanded that the government of India and Indian missions in Saudi Arabia should provide consular services at jails and deportation centres on a priority basis.
Antadpola Rajayya of Mannegudem village died of ill health in the deportation centre (exit jail) in Saudi Arabia. The migrant died due to a delayed service in issuing Emergency Certificate (Temporary White Passport).
Villagers, Gulf returnees and migrant rights activists participated in the funeral procession.
They displayed the placards under the auspices of 'Gulf JAC' demanding Rs 5 Lakh ex gratia from the Telangana government. They also demanded Gulf Board (Telangana Gulf Workers Welfare Board) with Rs 500 crore annual budget. They also demanded access to medical care in Saudi jails.
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The final journey procession with the embalmed mortal remains in a coffin was held with a huge crowd. Migrants' rights activist Guggilla Ravi Goud, village Sarpanch Singireddy Naresh Reddy and others participated in the procession. Earlier, the leaders paid tributes to the deceased migrant by covering the coffin with a Gulf JAC flag.
The state government has provided a free ambulance facility for transporting the coffin from Hyderabad Airport to Mannegudem village. About 200 Telangana migrant workers die every year in the Gulf countries.
According to activist Bheem Reddy In the last eight years, about 1,600 Coffins of Telangana migrants have reached their villages via Hyderabad Airport. Telangana Gulf Workers Joint Action Committee is the coalition of 24 migrant associations and diaspora organisations in India and abroad.
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