More than 800 Indian expatriates working in the Maldives have submitted a petition to President Mohamed Muizzu seeking a solution to the problem of remitting money to India.

A large number of Indian teachers and Indians working in the health sector and other sectors signed the petition.

The petition said the State Bank of India (SBI) Male' branch has capped the monthly remittance limit at USD 150 starting from October 25. The bank has also suspended the use of its MVR cards in other countries.

It noted that this decision has made it difficult for thousands of Indian employees working in the Maldives to send dollars to the country, while their families in India were also facing difficulties.

"Many of us regularly send dollars to our family members living in India. The limit is too low to meet even the most basic needs of our families," the Indian employees said in the petition.

The petition said they were aware of the difficulties faced by SBI in obtaining dollars.

The petitioners urged Muizzu to consult with the central bank, Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA), and SBI to find a solution to the problem.

Earlier, the Indian High Commission said the Indian government was discussing with the Foreign Ministry, MMA and the Maldives government to resolve the issue.

According to official figures, there are about 30,000 Indian expatriates in the Maldives. The majority of them are employed in the construction, tourism and finance industries.