Tortured in Kuwait, Tamil Nadu women return
Aditi.R@timesgroup.com
Chennai:06.08.2019
Four women from Tamil Nadu have fled Kuwait and returned to the state. They were hired as domestic workers in three different Arab households. What followed was physical abuse, torture and solitary confinement.
M Amudha and G Rajeshwari returned five days ago, while Vasantha Mani and Muthulakshmi came on Sunday. Muthulakshmi was too weak and was rushed to hospital from the airport.
“I was kept in a small room lacking ventilation and without food for two days, only because I asked for two hours of rest,” said Amudha. The 29-year-old was forced to take up the job after her husband was left paralysed.
The four women landed jobs through the same agent near Tiruvannamalai. Though they left for Kuwait at different periods, they all met at the office of their agent’s friend when they left their employers’ homes. But they were abused and forced to return. “The agent locked us in a room. We didn’t know each other, but had similar experiences,” said Vasantha. “I had to sell my jewellery to return home.”
Vasantha was the first to head to Kuwait after she was promised ₹40,000 a month. But since she landed, she had to work for more than one family. “I had to work at my employer’s mother’s house, his sisters’ and his friends’. I would start work at 6 am and continue till 2 am. If his wife saw me resting even for a minute, she would slap me,” she said.
Rajeshwari recalled an instance where she was not allowed to sit after working 12 hours. “I went to the toilet and sat for a while but slept for 10 minutes.”
When the three decided to leave, it wasn’t easy. “I was told by my employer that my agent had sold me for ₹7 lakh and he wouldn’t let me go,” said Amudha. “But I threatened to commit suicide and fled.”
Josephine Valarmathi, president of the National Domestic Workers Movement, said there were seven more women in Kuwait and they needed help. “We need the urgent intervention of state authorities. They should take strict action against unregistered agents who land women in such a situation,” she said.
Sumathi Vasudev, protector of emigrants, said not only unregistered companies, but even individuals and groups were involved in unauthorized recruitment. “Cases of unscrupulous agents are brought to our attention by the job racket team of the TN police,” she said. There are currently 108 registered agents across the state. “They provide pre-departure orientation for all migrants travelling not only to the Gulf but to any of the 18 ECR countries,” she added.
ILL-TREATED: M Amudha, Vasantha Mani and G Rajeshwari
Aditi.R@timesgroup.com
Chennai:06.08.2019
Four women from Tamil Nadu have fled Kuwait and returned to the state. They were hired as domestic workers in three different Arab households. What followed was physical abuse, torture and solitary confinement.
M Amudha and G Rajeshwari returned five days ago, while Vasantha Mani and Muthulakshmi came on Sunday. Muthulakshmi was too weak and was rushed to hospital from the airport.
“I was kept in a small room lacking ventilation and without food for two days, only because I asked for two hours of rest,” said Amudha. The 29-year-old was forced to take up the job after her husband was left paralysed.
The four women landed jobs through the same agent near Tiruvannamalai. Though they left for Kuwait at different periods, they all met at the office of their agent’s friend when they left their employers’ homes. But they were abused and forced to return. “The agent locked us in a room. We didn’t know each other, but had similar experiences,” said Vasantha. “I had to sell my jewellery to return home.”
Vasantha was the first to head to Kuwait after she was promised ₹40,000 a month. But since she landed, she had to work for more than one family. “I had to work at my employer’s mother’s house, his sisters’ and his friends’. I would start work at 6 am and continue till 2 am. If his wife saw me resting even for a minute, she would slap me,” she said.
Rajeshwari recalled an instance where she was not allowed to sit after working 12 hours. “I went to the toilet and sat for a while but slept for 10 minutes.”
When the three decided to leave, it wasn’t easy. “I was told by my employer that my agent had sold me for ₹7 lakh and he wouldn’t let me go,” said Amudha. “But I threatened to commit suicide and fled.”
Josephine Valarmathi, president of the National Domestic Workers Movement, said there were seven more women in Kuwait and they needed help. “We need the urgent intervention of state authorities. They should take strict action against unregistered agents who land women in such a situation,” she said.
Sumathi Vasudev, protector of emigrants, said not only unregistered companies, but even individuals and groups were involved in unauthorized recruitment. “Cases of unscrupulous agents are brought to our attention by the job racket team of the TN police,” she said. There are currently 108 registered agents across the state. “They provide pre-departure orientation for all migrants travelling not only to the Gulf but to any of the 18 ECR countries,” she added.
ILL-TREATED: M Amudha, Vasantha Mani and G Rajeshwari
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