(MENAFN - Arab News) Indian expatriates in Saudi Arabia struggle when they are repatriated to India, said Zahid Ali Khan, the chief editor of India's largest Urdu daily Siasat.
Khan said that Indian expatriates who are accustomed to leading a comfortable lifestyle in the Kingdom are failing to adjust back home.
The same level of luxury can be unaffordable for economic reasons.
He observed that Indian expatriates should consider making strategic investments to assure them a life of comfort prior to returning to India indefinitely. Most expatriates, however, fail to identify priority areas for investment.
"I have seen many Saudi-based expatriates from Hyderabad who have not owned a house in India, but have invested money in unproductive farmhouses instead," said Khan.
Even though India is a strong and emerging market, many Indians fail to identify and utilize its opportunities and they prefer work in Saudi Arabia.
Many Indian expatriates hesitate to return to India as the cost of living there is on the increase. Khan observed that many Indian expatriates who live in Saudi Arabia do not succeed in finding proper investment and strategic savings.
Both government and private agencies fail to advise them on a proper methodology of savings.
The chief editor of Siasat lamented the Indian government's failure to provide adequate educational venues for children of Indian expatriates in India.
"The educational institutions demand large donations to grant admission to Indian students who previously received an education in Saudi Arabia. Many of the non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the Kingdom are not in a position to afford such donations for their children," he said.
Khan added that many Indian expatriates preferred to fly on Saudi Airlines or Air Emirates for their prompt service rather than use Air India.
"Our national airliner should take this trend as an opportunity for introspection. Millions of Indians are working abroad, yet India's national flag carrier fails to serve its nationals who are working in Gulf countries," said Khan.
He also felt that the Indian Haj system should be revamped at an administrative level for Haj pilgrims with the best possible quality of service. "The Malaysian system of saving for pilgrims is ideal. As costs continue to rise, the Indian Haj mission should opt for a similar solution."
