By Ronald D’Souza and Joe Andrade - Daijiworld Media Network Bahrain
Bahrain, Feb 3: On a touching note, in a simple ceremony, His Excellency, Oscar Fernandes, the Union Minister for Labour & Employment, Government of India, was felicitated by the Karnataka community at the Bahrain Kannada Sangha premises at 5.00 p.m. today.
On arrival at the Kannada Sangha premises the Minister along with his wife and son were welcomed by representatives of various Clubs on the island who had gathered to greet the distinguished visitor.
Kamalaksha Amin, who anchored the ceremony, welcomed the Minister and the gathering. The Minister and his wife were honored on the dias by the President of Bahrain Kannada Sangha, by draping a shawl around them – a touching moment that seemed to shower all the warmth from the Karnataka community - and then presenting the Minister with a memento to commemorate his visit.
H.E. The Ambassador to India, Balakrishna Shetty spoke few words on the occasion followed by the Minister himself. Speaking in Kannada, with chaste words of kindness and humility and a subtle sense of humor, Fernandes took the opportunity to greet the audience on the occasion of Makarasankranthi and caught their rapt attention. With emphasis he highlighted the strides made by various organizations and in particular the untiring work the Indian Ambassador has been doing for the Indian community on the island.
Recognising some known faces of friends from younger days when he embarked into politics, he brought forth nostalgic memories of his acquaintance with them and concluded his words by assuring he would come again on a visit to the island.
As the program drew to a conclusion, a memorandum of requests given below was read to the Minister with a request for action and presented thereafter in writing, as under:
1. A fact-finding committee of the Parliament be sent to the Gulf countries to study the living condition of the Indian workers in the Gulf and suggest appropriate actions to better their safety and living standards.
2. The Govt of India may fix a minimum wage that must be provided by a Gulf employer for an Indian worker. (A worker should be allowed to leave India only if he has an Employment Contract authenticated by the Indian Embassy specifying the agreed wage).
3. A proper mechanism may be set up to ensure that Indian workers received their salaries properly. If they face any problem, the embassy may provide appropriate help to them immediately. A composite Life & Health insurance cover should be made available to NRI families, which extends the cover on return to India.
4. The Govt. of India should set up a fund to help repatriate bodies of Indian workers lying in the Gulf mortuaries which may be funded from the Emigration Deposits collected from workers.
5. The Minister to assist in expediting commencement of direct flights by Air India to Mangalore from Bahrain.
On receiving the Memorandum, Oscar Fernandes replied that the issues raised were relevant and will be taken up in the right spirit.
The Minister was thanked for having made it to the Kingdom of Bahrain and in particular for his gracious visit to the Bahrain Kannada Sangha.
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