2 Men Who Ended Up Working as Shepards in Gulf Returning Home

2 Men Who Ended Up Working as Shepards in Gulf Returning Home

Mangaluru: Before they left their respective hometowns, Damodar Shettigar, 31, from Gandhinagar at Ganjimutt in Dakshina Kannada, and Puneeth Jayaraj, 25, from Mulki near Mangaluru, who were promised as Spray Painters jobs in Saudi Arabia, but when they landed there they were made to work as Shepherds, to care of the sheep/cattle/camels in the farm. Earlier on 16 May 2017, Mangalorean.com had published a story “https://www.mangalorean.com/agency-promised-good-jobs-but-two-men-end-up-as-shepard-in-gulf/” pertaining to this issue. These two men were promised of 1800 rials per month (Rs 28,000) some months back for their jobs in Saudi, and were happy that they could support their families once they start earning in the Gulf- but unfortunately all their dreams were shattered. All they got was food and stay, but no proper salary for nearly five months, since they left India on 20 December 2016.

     Puneeth Jayaraj (left) and Damodar Shettigar

When their story of being cheated by the agency by not providing their promised jobs was published in various media, including Mangalorean.com, members of Indian Social Forum (ISF), an organization of Indians in Saudi Arabia, came forward to help the duo. The incident also came to light after Damodar and Puneeth had launched a campaign through WhatsApp by contacting friends and media people in Mangaluru and Saudi Arabia. Both in the meantime had also filed a complaint with the Indian embassy through MADAD (online Consular Grievances Management System of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs) on April 4, 2017. They had filed a complaint against the agencies based in Mangaluru and Mumbai, who duped them and put into all these consequences. It is learned that the duo had paid Rs 78,000 each to the agent to obtain visas and for other expenses. In spite of them making requests to their agencies to find them a better job, but their efforts were all in vain.

After all their efforts of the duo and also due to the help of ISF, Damodar and Puneeth are all set to return to India in the nearest future when their formalities and tickets are confirmed. Speaking to media Puneeth said, ” We are extremely thankful to the members of ISF for all their efforts in rescuing us from the hands of our employer, and forgetting our passports back through the Saudi Arabian Labor officials, which were kept by our employer in his possession. which were with the sponsor in Saudi Arabia back through the Saudi Arabian Labour authorities. For nearly five we have suffered a lot working as shepherds in the farm taking acre of sheep and camels. We never got paid, other than food and stay. We were desperately trying to get out from this place, and so we sought the help of friends and the media through social media. ISF who saw our appeal quickly got in touch with us and helped us out”.

“The members of ISF here took the initiative in taking us both to the labour officials in Saudi Arabia, and the officials were very kind enough to listen to our grievances, and offered their full support to get us back to India-they also urged our employer to pay all our back pay, and also return our passports and other documents which he was holding with him. ISF members were kind enough to follow up the issue till the end, and all the procedures are cleared through the Saudi Labor Court. Having got our exit permit, we are waiting for ISF to book our flight tickets to India. We are anxiously waiting to join our family members back home. We are now relived after nearly five months of suffering at the hands of our employer. We thank God, members of ISF and especially the media who also played an important role”

In the meantime, the family members of Damodar and Puneet are anxiously looking forward to unite with their two loved ones. Surely it will be a Happy Ending for the Duo, to be back again with their kith and kin.

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Agency Promised Good Jobs, but Two Men end up as Shepard in Gulf