Consulate provides food supplies to 22 Indian workers stranded in Sharjah

Following a distress call, a group of 22 stranded Indian workers, who were seeking employment in Sharjah, were provided with food provisions by the Consulate General of India on Tuesday, April 7. The men have valid visit visas and were brought to the UAE by fraudulent employment agents in early March, Consulate officials told Khaleej Times.
The Consulate arranged food supplies for the 22 Indian workers, following a distress call on Twitter. The men, abandoned by their agents, could not find jobs due to the global pandemic and had very little access to food and other supplies.
Danish Ali, one of the stranded workers told Khaleej Times, "We are a group of about 22 workers, and most of us are from Uttar Pradesh. When the situation became increasingly grave, we hoped to go back to India." Unfortunately, Danish said, most of them men had booked their air tickets were booked on March 22, when India had announced the 'Janta curfew', a day-long self-imposed quarantine.
"After the curfew, India has banned all international flights till April 14. We have not been able to go back since, and it has become very difficult for us to survive here," he added. Danish said the men have face masks and gloves with them, which they got with them from India. "We have not been stepping out of our accommodation at all," said Danish. The men are presently housed in bed spaces in Sharjah's Rolla area.
Consulate officials came forward to help the workers as soon as they were informed of their plight. Jitendra Singh Negi, Consul Labour, Consular and MADAD said, "The men were brought here on tourist visas in the first week of March. The agents have been reprimanded and we provided food and temporary provisions to the stranded workers." Negi said some of the workers were on one-month visas and some on three-month long visas.
Neeraj Agarwal, Consul (Press, Information, and Culture) said, "We encourage all Indians who are is in a crisis or destitute situation to reach out to the Consulate for help. Food and medical provisions will be provided to those in need."
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com 

• Dubai

Dhanusha Gokulan

dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com