By Shafeeq Hudavi, TwoCircles.net,
Kozhikode: Kannanthodivettil Hamza, a victim of new ‘Nitaqat’ labour policy of Saudi Arabia, hailing from Kizhissery in Malappuram district, never thought that the financial support, lent by a private bank, will soon turn into another burden.
The semi skilled labourer, who lost his job in Saudi Arabia, purchased a mini truck, with Rs. 860000, which he got from a private bank as per the rehabilitation scheme, envisioned by Non Resident Keralites’ Affairs Department (Norka). He managed to repay Rs 140000, but is now facing attachment threat from the bank as he failed to repay the installments for last few months owing to the poor earning.
The crisis, being faced by Mohammed Kutty from Nadapuram in Kozhikode district and Hamza from Chavakkad in Thrissur district are illustrative of the plight of those labourers who were forced to return from Saudi Arabia due to Nitaqat laws that is promoting employment for Saudi citizens. Many of them availed loans from banks for self employment, and but stricken by poverty are facing harassments if they are unable to pay installments on time.
The trio like several others applied for bank loan and initiated self employment laying trust on the much celebrated proclamations by Norka. Rough estimates by the authorities say that around 15000 expatriates, of which more than 80 per cent are Muslims, hailing from poorer families, have left Saudi following Nitaqat policy that has turned into a crisis of sort for those families depended entirely on remittance money.
Functionaries of the Pravasi Coordination Committee, a Kozhikode based organisation functioning for expatriates’ welfare, say that for last few months they have been getting complaints, where those affected by Nitaqat laws are being threatened by banks now owing to the lapses in repaying the loan.
Committee functionary Attakkoya Pallikkandy says the number of such complaints has been on upward as their earning is meagre to meet the daily needs along with repayment. “The returnees are under constant threats and mental torturing from bank officials,” he says.
Kerala Pravasi Sangham state general secretary K V Abdul Khader MLA shares the same sad story of a Nitaqat victim in Kollam district, whom he met two months back at a public meeting of the organisation.
“Through the much hyped rehabilitation the government offered them subsidies. We had submitted various memorandums to the department concerned and raised the issue in the Legislative Assembly. Besides, protest marches were taken to the district collectorates seeking action. But, no resolving measures have been taken so far. This is a case of bare betrayal. The government should allow them subsidies or actions should be taken to waive their debts,” Abdul Khader said.
These organisations have decided to take up the cause through an array of state wide protests. While contacted, Norka Roots chief executive officer R S Kannan says that steps are afoot to sort out the crisis.
“We have got as many as 100 such complaints from across the state. Their rehabilitation scheme has been confronted with lack of coordination between banks and Norka regional offices,” he said.
“A new mechanism will be soon developed, where the benefits of the capital and interest subsidies, announced by Norka, will be ensured to the victims. A ministerial level meeting will be soon convened to contemplate on the resolving measures,” he added.