Dubai: The Kannadigaru Dubai and KNRI Forum held a video conference with Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa, along with the Gulf Countries Karnataka Association on May 12 to discuss the challenges and issues faced by Kannadigas in the Gulf due to COVID-19.
During the video conference, the CM was informed about the pregnant women, senior citizens, visit visa expired cases and about those people requiring urgent medical treatment requirement, who wish to return home.
They placed before the CM the following requests: Evacuation flights from the Gulf countries to Bengaluru; additional evacuation flights from the Gulf countries to Mangaluru; priority-based evacuation of people who have lost their jobs, expired visit visas, pregnant women and those seeking urgent medical assistance; provision of free airline tickets or tickets at discounted prices; free quarantine facilities in Bengaluru and Mangaluru; dedicated Covid-19 helpline number for Karanataka NRIs; nomination of one main contact person in Karnataka to co-ordinate issues; KNRI registration website to collect data of Kannadigas worldwide.
“These details will help the Karnataka government plan current evacuations and future activities,” the KNRI said.
The Kannadigaru Dubai and KNRI Forum, Kannadigas in the Gulf and Gulf Karantaka associations have thanked the CM and MP B Y Raghavendra for their immediate and positive response to the Kannadigas’ requests in combating the Covid-19 situation.
They also thanked Namma Kundapra Kannada Balaga for organizing the meeting.
Sadhan Das, U.A.E President of Nammakundpra Kannada Balaga Gulf and former president of Kannadigaru Dubai, Manegar Meera Saheb U.A.E Honorary President of Shiruru Association and Namma Kudapra Kannada-UAE, Praveen Kumar Shetty U.A.E President Karnataka NRI forum UAE and Advisor of Sharjah Karnataka Sangha and Advisor of Kannadigas HelpLine -UAE, Sarvotham Shetty U.A.E President of Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, Uma Vidyadhar U.A.E President Kannadigaru Dubai, N Mohan U.A.E FOI CSR Activity Co-ordinator, Deepak Somashekara U.A.E Founder – Gulf Kannada Movies, Kannadigaru Dubai Committee member, Karunakar Rao OMAN President Muscat (Oman) Karnataka Sangha, Leeladha Baikampady Bahrain President of KNRI Bahrain, Rajesh Vittal Kuwait President Kuwait Kannada Sangha, Ramesh Bhandari Kuwait President Tulu Koota KUWAIT, Subramanya Hebbagilu- Qatar ICBF Joint Secretary and former Vice president of Qatar Karnataka Sangha, Nagesh Rao Qatar President Kannada Sangha Qatar, and Santhosh RD Saudi Arabia President of KNRI Jeddah (KSA)Saudi Arabia were present.
