In a harrowing ordeal, three women from Pune found themselves stranded and subjected to mental torture and physical assault by their employer in Saudi Arabia. Their desperate situation took a turn for the better when the Maharashtra State Commission for Women, in collaboration with the Indian Embassy, successfully orchestrated their safe return to Pune. These women, hailing from the Ambedkarnagar area of Market Yard, had initially ventured to Saudi Arabia with dreams of securing decent employment and wages.
Promises Turned Nightmares:
Recruited as domestic help by agents based in Mumbai, the women were lured with the promise of a monthly salary of Rs 35,000. However, upon their arrival in Saudi Arabia, they endured physical assaults and severe mental trauma inflicted by their employer after they refused to work under abusive conditions. Shockingly, the promised salaries were withheld, leaving the women in dire straits without access to food and water.
Seeking Help:
Facing a dire predicament, the women sought refuge in the assurance given by the agents that they would be repatriated to India. In their moment of need, they reached out to the Maharashtra State Women Commission for assistance. The commission promptly escalated the matter to the External Affairs Ministry, setting in motion a rescue operation in collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Saudi Arabia.
Commission’s Efforts:
Rupali Chakankar, Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Women Commission, had previously highlighted cases of women who had gone missing from the state. Many of these women, lured by the prospects of overseas employment, found themselves subjected to harassment and mistreatment by their employers abroad. In response, the State Women Commission issued a heartfelt appeal, encouraging women facing such adversities to reach out for help through email or the helpline number 1091.
