Jail minister’s daughter ‘frees’ city youth from ‘enslavement’

WHEN HEMADRI WENT TO WORK ON THE SHIP, HIS EMPLOYER TOOK HIS VISA AND PASSPORT AND MADE HIM WORK LIKE A SLAVE

LUCKNOW: After a year of ‘torturous’ working condition and ‘enslavement’ city youth Hemadri Upadhayaya is finally free to celebrate New Year with his family. Upadhayaya, who was trapped inside a ship 20 nautical miles inside Arabian Sea near Sharjah along with 18 other workers for around one year, was rescued with the help of an NGO Helping Helpless.

The NGO is headed by Amanjot Kaur Ramoowalia, who is daughter of minister of jail Uttar Pradesh Balwant Singh Ramoowalia. At a press conference convened on Sunday, Balwant Singh Ramoowalia said that Hemadri was hired by Vihan Ship Company on a salary of US $1000 per month. However, when Hemadri went to work on the ship, his employer took his visa and passport and made him work like a slave along with 18 other workers. “They were given food once a day and minimum water was given for their survival,” he told mediapersons.

Recounting his horrific experience, Hemadri said the employers were ruthless and used to misbehave when he along with others asked to be released on poor health grounds. “We were working around 18 hours a day and were allowed to sleep only for four to five hours. Our ship used to remain out in the sea for most of the time and we were not allowed to leave the ship whenever it was boarded along coastline. We were there working as slaves without any money,” recalled Hemadri.

Speaking about the rescue mission, Amanjot said that Hemadri contacted her through phone and later through various apps to tell his plight and that of other co-workers. She said, “I immediately swung into action and sought help from my father, who contacted minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj for the release of these men. The Indian embassy also contacted the owners of ship after that three people were released whose parents had contacted us. We are working for the release of the remaining men.”

Amanjot said that the NGO also managed to get Hemadri’s salary credited to his bank account when “we threatened action against the company.” She assured that all the other people would also be released soon for which ‘we are in touch with the Indian embassy.’