With the global financial crisis affecting Indians in the Gulf region, Mr Hamid Ansari vice president has said the Government was mulling steps to ensure the welfare of expatriates reeling under the meltdown.

Addressing a gathering of Indian community in Kuwait, Mr Ansari said that India's innate caution has saved it from the worst effects of the economic meltdown. He said that "The good thing, as Indians, is because of the innate caution for which we were blamed has saved our country from the worst consequences of meltdown. It has affected us in some measure but by no means as it has affected others. Our growth rate which was 9 per cent will now be 5.56%.”

Mr Ansari said pointing that though it is not good but it is better than what other countries may achieve. He said that "Some people here are affected, some people in the Gulf are affected. These are the matters on which the government is thinking because the welfare of Indians is the primary responsibility of the government of the country.”

(Sourced from Economic Times)