Odia Society In UAE Helps Trapped Odisha Worker Return Home To Khurda – ODISHA BYTES

Bhubaneswar: Thanks to the humanitarian efforts of the Odia Society in UAE, a employee trapped in that nation may lastly return house to Tangi in Odisha’s Khurda district.
The 25-year-old youth, Santosh Moharana, had gone to UAE for work by means of an agent whom he met by means of his maternal uncle.
The agent promised Santosh that he would get Rs 40,000 per 30 days for working as a home painter in UAE.
The provide appeared like a godsend to Santosh. “I have two daughters, one of whom is deaf and mute. Besides, I have to take care of my widowed sister and her two kids. In such a situation, I jumped at the offer,” he informed Odisha Bytes.
“I borrowed around Rs 1 lakh from fellow villagers and gave the money to the agent,” he added.
Santosh’s ordeal began quickly after he landed in Dubai on November 24 final 12 months. “A young man came to receive me at the airport and took to a two-storey building. Some other people were already staying there. Then, a supervisor came and took my passport. He told me that it will be used for the job,” he added.
The youth revealed that he was held like a captive with 10 others in a single room. “After four days, they shifted us to another place. Later, they shifted us eight more times to undisclosed locations,” he stated.
“At one of the places, there were 200 people and only four toilets. That was a very unhygienic place,” he added.
Santosh stated they got meals for naked survival and in addition tortured mentally. “The most difficult part was that they didn’t give us proper food. They used to give us rice and dal for lunch time and one roti and dal at midnight,” he stated.
“I didn’t have any money and I was very nervous living there. One day, I was able to contact my cousin with the help of a roommate. He in turn contacted Dr Chandrasekhar Khuntia (president of Odia Society in UAE) and sought his help.”
Speaking to Odisha Bytes, Dr Khuntia stated, “We could trace Santosh through his WhatsApp location sharing. We rescued him, and did his emergency COVID-19 test. I booked his tickets from Dubai to Bhubaneswar by spending more than Rs 30,000.”
Unfortunately, the Ministry of External Affairs was not of a lot assist in the matter. “I had informed the Indian government about the matter and sent them the details. As it was an individual case, they didn’t give it much importance. They interfere when it involves a group,” Dr Khuntia stated.
Santosh lastly landed at Bhubaneswar airport on January 11 and greeted by his members of the family who had come all the best way from Tangi to welcome him again house.
As for the agent in Odisha, he has gone underground. “The agent is not responding to my calls now. He belongs to a village near Balugaon. I have spent near about Rs 1 lakh in total. I am helpless now,” stated Santosh.
Dr Khuntia stated Santosh’s case ought to act as a warning to others towards doubtful brokers luring them with false job guarantees abroad. “We have collected the numbers and contact details of some of these agents who are duping our people in Odisha,” he added.

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