Not always a passport to a better life

New Delhi must ensure the rights of Indian workers abroad are not violated

It’s a dream of a better life that has been conclusively shattered. Recently the ministry of external affairs (MEA) stepped in to rescue 24 Indians “held captive” by a company in Saudi Arabia. The matter was brought to the notice of the MEA after Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik sought the help of external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj. This is not an isolated incident. Last month a woman from Hyderabad, reportedly “sold and tortured” in Saudi Arabia, was rescued after Ms Swaraj intervened. In March 29 workers held captive in Saudi Arabia were rescued. In July, the MEA helped more than 10,000 Indian workers who had lost their jobs in Saudi Arabia and were short on food supplies. Like a record stuck in a loop, horror stories of Indians working in West Asia, especially Saudi Arabia, keep repeating themselves with frightening frequency.

The role of the ministry in this matter has been nothing short of commendable. But rather than effectively dousing fires, the effort should be to prevent it. Unauthorised recruitment agencies and visa dealers are the main culprits here. They sell false promises and trap gullible people who often realise their plight much later. The government on its side has mechanisms to prevent such fraud: It has advised job seekers to go through recognised employment agencies. To assist, the MEA and Indian embassies in the host countries have special cells.

New Delhi must also get assertive on ensuring that such cases of human rights violations are not passed off as a routine matter. While India still imports most of its oil and gas, West Asia is not the market dictator it used to be. Shale gas from the United States and Iran’s re-entry into the market has weakened the Arab oil card and India, the buyer, is at an advantage here. This coupled with the Modi governments positive outreach to countries across the region should help the case of such NRIs.