PRESENT CONDITION OF EXPATRIATE INDIANS IN GCC COUNTRIES:
GCC is witnessing a new economic boom and as a result thousands of new workers are coming to these countries. In addition to workers from India people from Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines and Pakistan also coming to this countries. There is no minimum salary law in these countries. But there is strict labour law in the country, which provides yearly leave, gratuity, medical care accommodation, etc, but the companies do not give most of the benefits. Most of the low income and middle-income expatriates are working in construction industry.
There are two types of workers in the construction industry: 1. Directly recruited by the companies 2. Supplied by labour supply companies. For the first category the companies will pay salary and accommodation. Where as the second category, the company will pay the wages to Labour Supply Company and the labour supply company will give a small portion of the salary they are getting from the companies to the workers. There are cases of non-payment of wages in time to workers. There is a system to complain about such issues to the authorities, but workers have no time and knowledge to bring this to the notice of authorities.
Today each visa costs nearly Dh.9000. The labour supply companies collect Rs 150,000 to Rs. 250,000 from the workers in India through their agents. Most of the workers do not have any property or other assets to give guarantee to take loan from banks or institutions. So, they take loans from individual lenders, who charge a hefty interest like 100% to 120%.
When the workers reach here, the workers realize that the wages received by them will not be enough to repay the debt. At the same time the dependants start demanding the money from the breadwinner working in the Gulf for their livelihood.
This situation creates mental depression and stress among Indian expatriates in Gulf countries. The depression and stress are leading to suicide among expatriate Indians, which is increasing alarmingly in Gulf countries.
Last one year, total suicide cases among Indian expatriate were more than 84 in UAE alone. The number in entire GCC countries is more than 250. In the year 2004, it was 70 in UAE. Majority of persons committing suicide were from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Our studies identified the following reasons for this situation.
REASONS FOR DEPRESSION
Financial Crisis: Inability to pay back loan taken back home at high interest and dwindling earnings in the Gulf, thanks to the increasing cost of living. The salaries do not go up, as there is no fixed increment or provident fund as in Singapore and other non-GCC countries.Expatriates sacrifice the necessities and save maximum for their family. But the family members live beyond their means putting extra pressure on low income NRIs. Non-payment of salaries, indiscriminate cuts in salaries by employers, inability of Indian mission to do much drastically to redress the situation due to lack of sufficient staff in the mission. Expatriates again take loans in the Gulf at high interest to pay back loans back home. This is a vicious circle and there is no escape for them.
Bad living condition: Congested accommodation and bad food which take a toll on their health.
Lack of health insurance: Workers have no access to medical care and if they take leave their salary is cut.
Living conditions of families: The condition of those who are living with families are worst, we could see three families with children sharing two bedrooms and one living room apartment with one kitchen.
Lack of moral support from friends and relatives: Long working hours and long hours for travel the workers are not getting sufficient time to interact and share difficulties with friends.
High airfare: After marriage many men spend only few days with their wives and they cannot go home for short durations because of high airfare. Compared to this, Pakistanis are better off as a two way ticket to Karachi is only Dh 250. Many people including those living with families need counseling. Pre-marital counseling is also very important requirement for boys and girls.
Dowry:is another curse in the family life of expatriate couples. There are cases brothers and fathers are struggling to give dowry for daughters and sisters.
Alcoholism: In labour camps there are people to provide alcohol without paying cash but on credit with a hefty interest. Poor people drink to control depression and it leads to more crisis and depression.
Legal Issues: There are many expatriates Indians facing various legal issues, which require legal advice.
OUR INITIATIVE SANDWANAM (Consolation)
We had few opportunities to interact with people who are in depression and on the brink of suicide. From that experience we realized, if we ready to listen to their plight, miseries and problems and are ready to console them and give some kind of feeling that they have some one to share their problems and to get emotional support, it will lead to bring them back to normal life. Earlier our chairman was giving this service to the people individually.
Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust had decided to provide the above service called Sandwanam (Consolation) to the people who are on the brink of this kind of crisis with the cooperation of wider network of volunteers who speak different languages.
We announced the Sandwanam on 17th January 2006. We received an excellent response from people with various experiences.
So far we have received 50 volunteers who speak all Indian languages, including professionals, psychiatrists, sociologists and lawyers. They all agreed to provide some time, love, and compassion to deserving people.
WE SEEK THE SUPPORT OF VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS
We wish to expand Sandwanam, as a mass project with the cooperation of diplomatic missions, government of India, philanthropists, and organizations that can support us. We need kind-hearted support of individual organizations also. We request to introduce and implement this initiative all countries which are a part of GCC countries for the help of the people. Those who are interested to be part of this initiative, please contact us.