Reference to Mint .An Indian expatriate working in Saudi Arabia has come out with a heart wrenching appeal saying that he was kept against his wish and requested to be allowed to go back home. One of his online videos about his desperation has since gone viral and the Indian Embassy took action.
Video Demonstrates Suffering and Dangers.
In the video, the male talks in Bhojpuri as the shape of a camel and desert in the background. According to him, he lives in Prayagraj (previously Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh and that a man called Kapil has stolen his passport and threatened to kill him in case he insists on going back home. He tells, My village is Allahabad… I came to Saudi Arabia. Kapil has my passport. I informed him that I have to go home but he is threatening to kill me.
Obviously upset, he begs: Brother, post this video, post it and share it so much that, with your help, India, I will be able to receive help and return home. Whatever you are; Muslim, Hindu, and wherever you are, please, help. I must go to my dying; I must go to my mother.
Embassy Interferes Yet Requires Elaboration.
The Embassy of India, Riyadh responded to the viral video by stating on X (previously Twitter) that it is also seeking to track the person down but cannot do so further because the video does not provide much important information such as his whereabouts in Saudi Arabia, his employer or even a phone number.
The embassy further urged Delhi lawyer Kalpana Shrivastav, who had forwarded the video to inquire of the source to get more information. The mission requested that the origin of the video you have posted would be sought by the mission by the name Lawyer_Kalpana.
Since the man says he is a resident of Prayagraj, the embassy has requested officials of the district to get in touch with his family and instructions to write to cw.riyadh@mea.gov.in.
.
Social Media Response and Dissemination.
In her post, advocate Kalpana Shrivastav tagged the S. Jaishankar (Indian External Affairs Minister) and asked him to act urgently. She wrote:
Now, Honourable Foreign Minister @DrSJaishankar ji, take action immediately, a resident of the Prayagraj Handia Pratappur is trapped in Saudi Arabia.
Users of social media quickly picked up the video and started spreading it with hashtags such as #HelpUPMan and RescueFromSaudi in the hope that it will go viral and someone will come to their rescue. The officials are yet to identify the identity of the man and even his exact location in Saudi Arabia.
What Happens Next?
The video does not include the most important logistical information, which makes the action of the embassy to a limited extent. The family of the man, or any other person with plausible information (employer, place of location, passport number) is encouraged to get in touch with the embassy via the provided email. In the meantime, surveillance is being carried out and local UP authorities coordinated.
Further Background: Worker Vulnerabilities of Migrants.
What is reflected by this case is constant danger to migrant workers in other countries – particularly whereby they are denied documentation and are limited in communicating. Although recent reforms have been made to improve the protection of millions of migrant labourers, like the abolition of the Kafala system in Saudi Arabia, issues of recruitment, retention of passports, and migration at the employer’s will still emerge.
Implication on Families and Workers.
You must always register with the nearest Indian mission on travelling to work, it will take you out in an emergency.
Make a copy of your passport and other important documents digitally and email them to a close person at home.
Keep in touch with your family or support net as often as possible; in case you are confined, attempt to make signs of location or employer details.
Request anybody who notices suspicious distress of a worker to call the embassy or Indian consular services with detailed description (name of the employer, his address, his travel record).
Looking for website Designing ? Connect with wovved today.
