Riyadh: Indian Social Forum has once again extended its helping hand to an Indian expat worker to return back to India. Shabina Banu, an Indian from Puttur, came to Saudi Arabia with a dream and an intention of earning a good livelihood for her family. She had come through a Travel Agency Al-Hasan Enterprises from Bendoorwell, Mangaluru to work for a Child caretaker, with all service benefits. However, she was moved to Riyadh from Dubai and forced to work as a housemaid at her sponsor’s house. In the beginning, she refused to work as a maid but after her sponsor insisted her to do so, without any other option she agreed. After a while her sponsor forced her to work in his other house too. When she refused to work at both the places she was physically tortured.
Shabina Banu was paid only 1000 riyals salary for her work while her agent had promised her a salary of 1500 riyals. As her problems grew, she contacted her family in India and explained her situation, and so her family members decided to bring her back. Regarding this issue, the family members approached the agent Hameed in Mangaluru, but he was reluctant to help and even warned them not to contact him again.
Taking next step, the family members of Shabina contacted Ashraf Arkana, a member of Indian Social Forum and discussed all the possibilities of returning her back to India. Indian Social team led by Ismail Mangalapete and Ashraf Arakana immediately acted to help Shabina Banu. First of all, they contacted her on phone and lifted her spirits promising her of making all the arrangements to go back home. Social Forum Members contacted the Indian Embassy office in Riyadh to make immediate repatriation of Shabina Banu.
Indian embassy called her sponsor and requested him to release her but he demanded the money which he had paid for her visa. As Shabina did not have any relatives or friends in Riyadh, Indian Social Forum Karnataka State Committee arranged the money and paid to her sponsor on her behalf. Finally, Shabina was departed from the King Khalid International Airport Riyadh to Puttur via Bengaluru.
Shabina Banu had no words to thank Indian Social Forum for their help, and she was extremely grateful to the association. She conveyed her thanks to the team and wished that their efforts would continue in the coming days, before she returned back home happily.
