Mangaluru woman returns home after Saudi ordeal; thanks ISF for timely help

Mangaluru, Nov 26: A woman from Mangaluru’s Vamanjoor locality, who had stranded in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after allegedly being duped by a local visa agent, finally returned home and reunited with her family on Sunday.

“I am grateful to the activists of India Social Forum (ISF). They helped me when I was in need. They treated me like own family members. I and my family cannot forget their help,” said 43-year-old Vijaya after she landed at Mangaluru International Airport on Sunday. Vijaya’s son, who is a PU student and activist of SDPI were present at the airport to welcome her.

Wife of Balappa Balakrishna, residing at Kelarai Kody in Vamajoor, Vijaya had left for the country on July 15, 2015 to work as housemaid in the oil-rich kingdom. The poor financial condition of her family had forced her to migrate to the Middle East. The local visa agent had promised her attractive salary and annual vacation.

However, when she decided to return home a few months ago, her sponsor, who had reportedly paid money to the agent, refused to return her passport and other documents. When the activists of Dakshina Kannada unit of Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) came to know the issue through her family members, they passed the information to ISF workers, who not only approached the stranded woman but also lodged complaint with Indian embassy and Labour department in the Kingdom.

Vijaya’s sponsor had to handover all the documents to her last week following the intervention of the authorities of Indian embassy and Saudi labour department. She came to Mangaluru via Mumbai.