Like cattle...

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Indian-workers-sold-like-cattle-in-Saudi-Arabia-Stowaway/articleshow/5408084.cms

Indian workers sold like cattle in Saudi Arabia: Stowaway

Rachna Singh, TNN 4 January 2010, 01:25am IST

JAIPUR: Habib Hussain of Moradabad, who hid in a toilet on an Air
India flight from Saudi Arabia to return to his own country, says he
did so for his two children, his pregnant wife, and an ailing mother.
After his bizarre experience, Habib says he has realised that `aadhi
roti' (half a piece of bread) at home is better than one in an alien
land. He also said Indian labour is sold like cattle in that country.

He had sold his two `bigha' land for Rs 1.25 lakh and left behind just
about Rs 11,000 for his family after paying the agent. He now
tearfully says, ``There was no point in staying in Saudi. I just had
to return. My wife was two months pregnant when I left and will have a
baby any time now. My family was hungry here; I was hungry there. I
was better off earning Rs 80 a day and feeding my family rather than
living on a promise of Rs 15,000-20,000 and not getting a paisa.

``I know there could have been serious problems during the flight, but
I had confidence in my countrymen. Moreover, I was ready to face any
consequence in India which would have been better than living in Saudi
Arabia,'' he says.

``After grazing goats until noon, I offered namaz. In the evening,
after helping a Haji with his bags, I slipped into a toilet in the
lower deck of the aircraft. Forty-five minutes after the plane took
off, an air hostess saw me. After she heard my story, she gave me a
seat and food,'' said Habib.

All that Habib got to eat in the six months that he was away was one
roti and a bowl of dal worth Re 1 each day - bought from the money
that the Hajis tipped him with. ``I didn't get a penny from my
employer and started saving whatever I could to get back to my
country. I could manage to save Rs 800 and thought if my passport was
returned to me, I could board a flight to India. But whenever we asked
for our passports, we were kicked and thrashed and made to work for
over 14 to 18 hours a day,'' he said.

``Indian labour is sold in Saudi like cattle and thousands of Indians
from UP and Bengal are suffering there. They are helpless without
their passports,'' said Habib. ``My agent (Imran) got an assignment to
provide 50 labourers from India. We were recruited and sent in groups
of five, 10 and 20. After landing, I was made to work in Jeddah for a
month. I grazed goats during the day and worked as a cleaner at the
airport in the evenings. I worked for 14-18 hours a day. Thereafter, I
was sold to a `khafil' or agent in Medina who required 500 people. In
Medina, I worked for over 15 hours daily. I wept and wondered how my
family was doing back home,'' he said.

``My father passed away two years back and my mother is ill and needs
medication. I just want to get back home. I hope my case will be seen
with empathy. Who will feed my children if I am put behind bars?'' he
asked.

(Thanks Marcy)