By Mir Mohsin Ali

RIYADH — Indian Ambassador Ahmad Javed announced that prominent community volunteers in Saudi Arabia would be felicitated in recognition of their services for the community. This felicitation will be done in January 2018 on the occasion of Republic Day of India.

The Embassy of India had organized a volunteer’s interactive session. In the session volunteers who had worked during the amnesty period at the Indian Embassy Community Club were present. On this occasion, Javed sought suggestions from volunteers on how to improve community services to the Indians.

He also said that every year 2-3 such interactive session will be held. He also announced that the embassy officials will visit different cities of the Kingdom and have similar interactive session and will train volunteers on the organizational and cooperative aspects of volunteerism.

He thanked the community volunteers for their services and said that because of them the amnesty process went off smoothly.

On this occasion, the ambassador released Information for volunteers, a booklet on how to assist the Embassy and Consulate. This 26 pages booklet provides information about the Labor, Death, Driving/Accident, Jail/Imprisonment and Consular services, Passport, Attestation and EC.

The ambassador said, “India and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial and friendly relations reflecting the centuries old economic and social cultural ties. The strength of over 3 million Indians represent the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom and growing number of Indians is an indication of the good relations that exists between India and Saudi Arabia and is also a reflection of the good work that Indians are doing in the Kingdom.”

Javed said the Embassy of India in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah have the onerous task of providing consular service to and looking after the welfare of the largest community of Indian passport holders outside India.

He said the Embassy and Consulate are committed to strive constantly to bring about greater efficiency in providing quality service to the community.

He said, “The Embassy and Consulate can be contacted 24x7 on social media platforms Facebook and Twitter, and said this booklet is an effort to collate and share some basic essential information to resolve issues faced by the Indian nationals working in the Kingdom and how to access various services provided by the Embassy and Consulate for the benefit of the community.”

After the speech of ambassador, the present volunteers asked many questions in relations to volunteerism and community welfare.

Earlier, Anil Nautiyal, counselor, Community Welfare, welcomed the gathering. First Secretary at the Ambassador’s office Venkateswaran Narayan, Naveen Kamal Sharma, second secretary, and Embassy officials, along with a large number of volunteers were present.