Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, May 29: Manikya Associates Manpower Consultancy, the recruitment agency that was alleged to have 'cheated' 35 youths from Mangaluru who are presently stranded in Kuwait without being given salaries or proper food, on Wednesday May 29 issued a statement clarifying that the firm has nothing to do with the condition of the youths in Kuwait, and that it is ready to extend them all support in order to bring them back.
As reported earlier, 35 youths from Mangaluru were recruited by Manikya Associates for a job in Kuwait, upon payment of Rs 65,000 by each person. However, upon reaching Kuwait, they realised that the company they had been recruited for was totally different. For the past five-six months, they have been allegedly deprived salaries and proper food. In a video message, the youths had sought help of public and politicians back home. MLA Vedavyas Kamath, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel as well as some of the Mangalurean associations and social workers in Kuwait have already extended their help by contacting the Indian embassy or providing food and other essentials to the youths. At the same time, an FIR was registered against Manikya Associates.
Prasad Shetty, who runs Manikya Associates, in his statement to the media said that the youths were recruited as per the requirement of Mumbai-based Hawk Consultancy for a company called Aspect Petroleum, and the necessary agreements were duly signed by the youths before embarking to Kuwait.
"As per the requirement of Hawk Consultancy Pvt Ltd based in Juhu Church Road, Mumbai, 58 people (including 35 from Mangaluru) were recruited and sent to work as bike riders for Aspect Petroleum Service company in Kuwait. All the 58 were aware about this.
"Hence, there is no connection between Kuwait's Aspect Petroleum Service company and Manikya Associates Manpower Consultancy. Manikya Associates only acted as a channel of communication between Hawk Consultancy and the 58 aspirants," the release stated.
"It has come to our notice that for no reason allegations have been made against us in media and social media with videos. There is no connection between the incident and Manikya Associates.
"However, out of humanitarian concern, we are ready to extend all required support to the 35 youths stranded in Kuwait to help them come back to their hometown," the release added.
Prasad Shetty has also approached the city police commissioner appealing against the viral videos released by the youths in Kuwait, particularly naming Mohammad Arif Bannur, who is among the 35 stranded persons. In his appeal, Shetty stated that Manikya Associates has been in business for 11 years, recruiting manpower for various assignments around the world. In September 2018, Hawk Consultancy approached Manikya Associates with the request to hire people as bike riders for Aspect Petroleum in Kuwait. Accordingly, job interviews were held and 58 were selected and given air tickets from Mangaluru to Kuwait, and also free accomodation and food till confimation of their driving licences. The recruited persons also signed undertakings with Hawk Consultancy as well as job offer letters with Aspect, copies of which are with daijiworld.
Alleging that the video message going viral on social media was 'fake', Prasad Shetty in his appeal to the police commissioner said that Mohammed Arif Bannur, despite being given the job, had with 'malafide intention', 'illegally' and 'wrongfully picturised a fake message in social media' which has adversely affected Prasad Shetty's businness in Mangaluru.
Shetty also said that he had approached Hawk Consultancy with a request to warn Mohammed Arif and others and take appropriate action against them for the trauma he suffered as a consequence of the allegations. However, the consultancy did not initiate any action, after which a notice dated March 16, 2019 was sent to its directors. Thereafter, the managing director of Hawk Consultancy in order to pacify them, but in vain. "Meantime, the (youths) have disseminated wrong things and misled the actual matter and contacted the MLA of Mangaluru South Constituency Vedavyas Kamath, (who) came to know the actual truth that the appellant (Manikya Associates) has not committed any mistake," the appeal stated.
Prasad Shetty urged the police commissioner to intervene in the matter and resolve the issue.