Goraya woman back from Arabian hell

Aparna Banerji

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 18

Goraya resident Reena (34) returned home today after a harrowing time in Saudi Arabia, where she was underpaid and tortured by her employers.

Her return was facilitated by the External Affairs Ministry after her video, in which she appealed to AAP MP Bhagwant Mann to rescue her, went viral.

Talking to The Tribune, she said, “I will never go abroad again. I urge all women planning to work overseas to conduct a thorough investigation about their agent and the promises being made to them.”

Reena reached Saudi Arabia in October 2016. “My employers treated me well during the first few months, but later they started tormenting me. They held me captive and used to beat me up. While I was promised Rs 25,000 per month, I was given barely Rs 15,000. I was also not allowed to call up anyone.” Reena’s husband had gone to Bahrain, but he came back after sustaining a serious injury in an accident. Her 10-year-old son is studying, while her 15-year-old daughter quit studies earlier.

“I now plan to earn a livelihood in India and take care of my husband and children,” she added.