6 Nepali women missing in gulf countries

More than 6 women from Sangambasti in Bardiya district who went to gulf countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in search of work or what the government defines as "overseas employment" are out of contact with their family members from the last one and half years.

According to Kantipur Daily, Juna Pariyar, 30 and her sister Sushila Pariyar, 22 of Sangambasti-2, Gulariya including few other girls from the neighboring VDCs of the impoverished part of the district were flown to various gulf countries by overseas agents Sher Bahadur B.K and Sharada Begum of Sonashree VDC promising them of good job and better payment, but now their condition and whereabouts remains unknown. The women were flown despite the government ban on sending Nepalis women to Gulf countries for work.

"They (the agents) told me that my daughter would get a monthly salary of Rs 10,000 including other facilities," Krishna Pariyar, the father of one Putali Pariyar who was also flown to a gulf country by the agent duo, told the daily, "now it has been more than a year and a half but I haven't heard from her. I don't know where she is or what she is doing."

Similarly, Sarita B.K of the same village is also out of contact with her family members for the past year. Her father Ram Bahadur said that although he pleaded with the District Police Office to find her daughter, his daughter's whereabouts and condition still remains a mystery.

Same is the story with Man Kumari Chaudhari, Gita Chaudhari, Bhavisara Sunar of Gulariya-1 and Mina Pariyar of Sonashree Deurali Danda. It has been more than 8 months that they have gone for "work" in gulf countries, but their families haven't heard from them. They were also flown to different gulf countries by the same agents Sher Bahadur and Sharada.

Juna's mother Sabitri Pariyar said that the agents take advantage of the poor financial condition in the settlements of Dalits and landless people and take away their daughters promising that they would get them better job and salaries in gulf countries.

She said when she asked the agents the phone number of the place where her daughters worked she was given a wrong number. And after that when she demanded that her daughter be brought to her safely the agent instead tried to manhandle her.

Sabitri said that even when she registered a complaint with the police about the case, no actions were taken against the agents.

When this issue was brought up with District Superintendent of Police Krishna Gurung he just said they are searching for the person accused of taking the girls to the gulf countries.

Meanwhile, Area Police Office, Mainapokhari rescued three girls who were about to be flown to gulf countries via India on Monday and handed them over to their relatives.

Because of the government ban on sending Nepalis women workers to gulf countries, the agents first take the girls to India and then put them on airplanes to various gulf countries.nepalnews.com ag May 01 08