NRI Commission takes note of Punjabis detained in Kuwait

Saturday, 30/08/2014

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Chandigarh: The Punjab State Commission for NRIs has taken a suo motu cognisance of news reports, highlighting the plight of 700 Punjabi youth detained by their employer in Kuwait.

It was reported that the youth had not been provided food for the last two to three days and they were not permitted to go outside the premises. The employer had kept their passports. The detainees were not paid wages for the last one month. They had also been beaten, following which they sustained injuries and were admitted to the hospital. Some skilled workers had a tiff with Punjabi youth earlier and now they had detained those Punjabis, the reports had said.

The Commission asked the Union Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs to act fast and coordinate with their counterparts (Indian Mission) in Kuwait, so that appropriate medical treatment, financial and legal help could be provided to them to get rid of the atrocities by their employer and to get the laws invoked relating to safety and security of detained Indian (Punjabi) workers.

“The Government of India, if need be, can appoint a special envoy for the said purpose at the earliest for timely intervention and results. We expect the requisite report be submitted to this Commission on or before October 21, when the case would again come up for hearing,” the Commission Chairman Justice (retd) Arvind Kumar and member ADGP S Chattopadhyaya said in an order passed to this effect.

The commission also sent a copy of the order Punjab Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Home Affairs and Justice and Principal Secretary NRI Affairs for information and necessary action at their end and to coordinate with the Union Ministries.

“The business of human trafficking is flourishing in Punjab. A large number of registered and unregistered travel agents operating in Punjab are the major source of human trafficking. Despite an enactment of a new law by the Punjab Government and the recommendation of this Commission to constitute Law Enforcement Units and Human Trafficking Victim Relief Fund, which need to be monitored by a three-member Board to be constituted by the state government, headed by an officer not below the rank of Principal Secretary, but as yet there is no such curb.

It is unfortunate that the Indian Government is not as concerned about the safety of its citizens in foreign countries as Government of other countries are,” the Commission observed.DP