Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, May 24: In what may be termed as an alleged employment fraud, as many as 35 youths from Mangaluru are reportedly trapped in Kuwait after they were allegedly falsely promised lucrative jobs by an agency.
In a video that has gone viral, the youths are heard saying that they went to Kuwait on employment visa through the city-based Manikya Associates, a placement agency owned by a person named Prasad Shetty.
"Prasad Shetty of Manikya Associates took Rs 65,000 from each of us 35, and sent us to Kuwait to work for a firm called Carriage. But upon reaching Kuwait, we realised that it was a totally different firm. We have been here for six months but still we have not been given salaries. Today, the company informed us that they would stop providing us food also from now onwards," they said in their message.
"Our families are in poor financial condition. We do not have money and we are helpless. We request the media and all political leaders of Mangaluru to help us. A total of 200 Indians are here, out of whom 35 are from Mangaluru," they said.
In the video message, the group of youths said that they have not been given salary and proper food for the past five months. They do not have money to buy food either.
Speaking to Daijiworld over the phone from Kuwait, Abubakker from Bajal, who is among the 35 youths, said, "After taking our money, Prasad Shetty cheated us, and now he is threatening to put all of us in Kuwait jail. He recruited 200 Indians for Carriage company, but after landing here in Kuwait, we realised that the Carriage company had been given the contract to recruit employees for another firm called ENSEEM, which has been blacklisted in Kuwait.
"There is no proper employment agreement and the company has not given jobs to a majority of the people who came here. A few got jobs but have not been paid for the past five-six months. Four people were injured in an accident while delivering food (majority of the youths got employed as delivery boys for food service companies), but the company did not give them treatment. Now they are bedridden and consuming pain killers to survive," he said.
"Initially a few of us received between 20 to 40 Kuwait Dinars after repeated requests, but after that, no one has been given any salary. From today, the company has stopped giving us food also. When we contacted the Indian embassy, they told us to escape, so that once Kuwaiti police arrest us, we will be deported to India anyway," he added.
The youths appealed to Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyas Kamath to step in and help them come back to their hometown.
MLA Kamath has responded to the video saying that he would do his best to get them back to Mangaluru. "I have noticed the video of the youngsters who are having issues in Kuwait created by Manikya Associat(es) in providing jobs and now suffering without food too. I am following up with almost everybody and will try my level best in getting the boys back.
"I have spoken to authorities concerned, and will even take this matter to the highest persons in the government. Please do have patience and let us all make sure that these youngsters return safely to Kudla (Mangaluru)," he said.
Kamath futher said that for the immediate relief of the youths, he would contact a friend in Kuwait and ask him to help the youths with food and other essentials. "Once I get their passport copies through my friend, I will send them to the central government and request the government to urge the Kuwait authorities to take action against the guilty parties," he said.
"I urge the 35 youths not to panic or worry. As MLA, I will do everything in my power to rescue them, and take the help of MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and also our government. It is our responsibility. We will bring them back as soon as possible. I appeal to everyone not to panic," he added.
Daijiworld's calls to Prasad Shetty of Manikya Associates went unanswered.
Video:
MLA Kamath: