5 Sangrur men return penniless from Dubai, seek govt support

Parvesh Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 9

Having returned empty-handed last week from Dubai even after working hard for five years, five landless residents of Banbhaura village face an uncertain future. They got stuck in Dubai after the company they were working with refused to release their visa papers and salary.

“We neither have money nor any source of income. We hope to start working as daily wagers like we had been doing before moving to Dubai. The Centre and Punjab Government should put some mechanism in place to help people like us, who have been cheated by their employers,” said Mukand Singh. Mukand, 29, who along with four others — Beant Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Jarnail Singh and Hardeep Singh — had gone to Dubai after taking loans from private money lenders. Since they belong to landless Dalit families, they decided to work in Dubai for a better future.

‘No income source’

We neither have money nor any source of income. We hope to start working as daily wagers like we had been doing before moving to Dubai. The government should help us. —Mukand Singh, Banbhaura village resident

Two months prior to the expiry of their visa last year, their employer stopped paying them the salary. Even a case in a labour court failed to ensure the release of their dues. “They have returned after struggling for almost eight months to get their money. Their employer did not even pay them their PF which was being deposited since 2015,” said Gurjant Singh, father of Hardeep Singh. Hardeep said they stayed in a room for almost eight months. Finally, they reached home with the help of Dubai-based businessman Surinder Pal Singh Oberoi. All five reached Chandigarh on July 20. After staying in mandatory quarantine, they reached their village on August 1. “After the families approached me, I took them to SAD leader Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, who contacted Oberoi. Finally, with Oberoi’s help, they have returned,” said Jaswant Singh Gajjan Majra, a leader of the Lok Insaaf party from Amargarh.