Help 2 Women Get Compensation For Saudi Tragedy: HC To Centre

The Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to assist two women who lost their family members in accidents in Saudi Arabia.

It asked the Centre to look into the matter after it received two petitions.

Stily George lost her husband George Antony in a tyre blast incident in 2014. Darohara Devi lost her son Dhirendra Kumar Singh in another incident in Saudi Arabia

The HC asked the Centre to assist the women in getting appropriate monetary relief in Saudi Arabia. It said the Indian government cannot provide the compensation, because it was ‘untenable’. The two women said they were entitled to employment benefits.

"However, as far as their quest for assistance to obtain compensation/employment benefits of their deceased relatives is concerned, this Court is of the view that the respondent (government) should extend all possible assistance through diplomatic channels or otherwise to ascertain as to whether they are entitled to any relief and, if so, further assist them to secure the same," Justice Vibhu Bakhru said.

The petitioners filed their pleas through advocate Jose Abraham. They said they have still not received benefits they were entitled to.

The plight of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia is sometimes unbearable. Many Indians are lured to the country on the promise of better work prospects, but then find themselves in exploitative situations. Workers in Saudi Arabia are restricted by their employers who determine their visas, and permissions to leave the country.

These kind of stories come to light every month. Indians travel to Saudi Arabia, in the hopes of better pay, but find themselves part of a scam. Indians are the largest community of expatriates in Saudi Arabia. Let's hope these women get justice soon.

Also Read: Husband Seeks Sushma Swaraj’s help to Rescue Wife Facing Torture in Saudi Arabia