Working in the Gulf countries continues to be the aspiration of lower middle-class people in the coastal districts even today. In search of greener pastures, people continue to migrate to the Gulf countries for a job, often only to become disillusioned.
Reuters
Last year, when 41-year-old Venkappa Poojary, a mason from Yermemajalu near Kalladka of Bantwal taluk got an opportunity to work in Qatar, he thought it was a golden opportunity that would change his fortunes. He had a debt of nearly Rs 4 lakh, and thought he would work for a while and settle his dues before building a better future for his family comprising his wife and three children, two of them daughters.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Poojary said, ¡°I was excited when I got this opportunity to work abroad. I went to Qatar in May 2016 and worked for a marble company for three months. There were about 30 employees. When I asked for a salary after the first month, I was told they would pay me the next month. However, for almost three months, my employer never paid any salary and when I asked him, he said, I would be paid when I returned back home. Unfortunately, the company closed down.
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I moved to another company, where I worked for a month and was paid a salary. I then started working in a house under construction. Here I would be paid about Rs 100-200 for my food and other expenses, but not on a regular basis. This man then left me back with my first employer. From here, my troubles only worsened. Though I had a room to live in, there was no electricity supply or water. Candlelight was the source of light. There were days I would not have money for food. I took up odd jobs like selling scrap and would earn a little money once in a way. I just wanted to go home somehow and finally called the agent who had sent me to Qatar. He put me in touch with representatives of the Qatar India Social Forum.¡±
Ashraf Machar, a member of the Forum, said that after the company that Poojary was working for closed down, some people were sent back. However, for Poojary, his passport was with the employer. And his visa too expired.?
mirror.co.uk
¡°We saw the condition he was living in, without electricity. We made arrangements for him to stay with us. At the same time, the legal procedure began. It was eight months since his visa had expired. He would also have to pay a penalty of about 100 Riyals per day (Rs 1800). We checked with the embassy and made all arrangements to get his passport. We could have fought against the employer, but Poojary only wanted to get back home,¡± he said.
The Forum got to know about Poojary in November and team members Lateef Madikeri and Sharif Vagga played a key role in helping him. The Qatar India Social Forum has a Karnataka team to help people in distress there. They frequently organise blood donation camps and play an important role to dispatch dead bodies home in case of a mishap, which is a laborious process.
They also share a good rapport with the Indian consulate and over the years have also understood how the legal system works there. They also participate in the national celebrations of Qatar. It was due to their efforts that Poojary was able to return home last week. In a communally sensitive coastal city, this is definitely an example of religious unity.