Wailing under the veils: women trafficked to Gulf countries

Women from economically backward societies are targetted by local agents in the state who lure them and promise about a better job in Gulf countries. Once departed, women are unable to return due to the Kafala system.

Imagine being confined to four walls 24/7 and treated like an animal. Where serving your owners is the only task and opposing them would lead to catastrophic results. How unlikely it sounds in today's world of justice where big organisations stand firm to guard human rights? But what if I tell you that there are people trafficked into this kind of slavery even today. And it starts not too far from your home.

A system of trafficking of housemaids from cities like Hyderabad to Gulf countries has been in existence for a long time. Women from economically backward societies are targetted by local agents in the state who lure them and promise about a better job in Gulf countries. Once departed, women are unable to return due to the Kafala system.Under this system, a local citizen or a local company, commonly known as the kafeel, must sponsor foreign workers for their work visas and residency to be valid. This means that an individual’s right to work and legal presence is dependent on his or her employer.Passport of these women are confiscated by these employers and thus begins the endless struggle of their slavery.In a bid to stop the harassment of women in Gulf countries, Khadma Visa was banned by Indian Govt. The visa used to permit women to work as housemaids in Gulf countries. The Indian embassy has been trying to rescue these women.

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Amjed Ullah Khan, spokesperson of Majlis Bachao Tehreek in an interview with ETV Bharat explained about his efforts to help these women.He has been acting like a bridge between the victims and the government."Usually the victim's family approaches me when they realise that the woman is stuck. With the help of available facts, I file a complaint on an online grievance website 'madad'. The concerned embassy is then alerted and then begins the further investigation, " he said.The Government of India on February 21, 2015, launched a new website known as 'madad'. This website will provide a platform for Indian citizens living abroad to file consular grievances online.Ending this system is not easy. Indian government must keep a tab on women travelling to Gulf countries. Women's condition must be scrutinized on regular intervals of months.But the limited jurisdiction of our government would be insufficient. International organisations must stand up against this inhuman form of slavery. No one deserves to spend their lives in such horrors of exploitation.