More Andhra migrants return from Gulf

Another group of migrants from Andhra Pradesh granted amnesty for overstaying in the UAE returned home yesterday. Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and NRI Affairs Minister D Sridhar Babu consoled the 17 people at the airport. The workers from Dubai flew back with the help of the state government and voluntary groups.

Homecoming: The 17 people arrived at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport yesterday and welcomed by Cm kiran Kumar File Pic

Reddy assured them that they will be given top priority in government welfare programmes like housing and employment. According to the statement, the government is making efforts to bring back about 300 "Gulf victims".

An official team is already in the Gulf, coordinating the efforts to bring back those stranded in the Gulf states. The entire expenditure for their return home is being borne by the state government, it said.

Sridhar Babu said that 1,000 migrants stuck up in the UAE have approached the state government for help. The migrants, mostly unskilled labourers from various districts, were stuck after their visas expired or agents cheated them. This was the third group of migrants to return home since last week. The first group had 14 people and the second 20.