Thiruvananthapuram, March 19 Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Thursday appealed to the central government to arrange more flight services and travel facilities for expatriates in the Gulf region who wish to return home for Eid.
The CM said that the Eid festival season was turning into a time of depression for the expatriate community in the Gulf region and their families in Kerala, due to the lack of sufficient flights to return home as a result of the ongoing conflict in West Asia.
Vijayan, in a statement issued by his office, said that usually the festive season was a time of happiness as the expatriates return home, but this time the journey has been disrupted for many due to lack of sufficient flights.
This has also led to soaring ticket prices and insufficient seats on the available flights, he said.
Besides that, there is also a growing concern among expatriates about whether they will be able to return to their jobs in the Gulf after the festival due to the existing uncertainties related to travel.
"It is essential to ensure proportionate flight services considering the special circumstances of the expatriate community in Kerala.
"In this situation, the central government should intervene urgently and arrange more flight services and travel facilities," the CM said, while extending Eid greetings to the expatriate community in the Gulf region.
He said that expatriates are an integral part of our country and addressing their concerns is a much bigger responsibility than a mere social obligation.
Vijayan said that the concerned authorities should be ready to take immediate steps to provide comfort and confidence to them during the festive season of Eid.
He also commended the members of the Loka Kerala Sabha and expatriate organizations in the Gulf countries for coming together to provide assistance to the stranded Indians in this time of unrest.
The CM expressed hope that such interventions will be further strengthened.