Jacintha Mendonca was promised a job of house nurse but ended up being a bonded labour in Qatar Her plight came to light after she was explained her ordeal to her family over a brief conversation on phone Despite her health failing, her employer is insisting on completion of her two year contract
To make matters worse for Jacintha Mendonca (46) who has been trafficked into bonded labour in Saudi Arabia from Karkala in Udupi district, her torturous employer has refused to free her anytime soon, at least till her contract of two years is over. Jacintha was promised a job of house nurse, but after reaching Qatar, she ended up being a bonded labour. After her plight grabbed national headlines, External Affairs ministry came forward to help her. But now with Kafil (her employer) being adamant over completion her contract, she may not be able to come to India for another eight months, it is reported.
It may be recalled here that Jacintha, a resident of Pernal in Karkala, Udupi district was promised the job of house nurse by James D'Mello from Kulshekhar near Mangaluru for a salary of Rs 25,000 per month. She left to Qatar but landed in Saudi Arabia where she was made to take care 10 children of three wives of her Saudi employer. She had to work for over 16 hours a day, reports The Times of India. This took toll on her health and she fell. After Jacintha - who got an opportunity to speak to her family members in last December - explained her plight to her children, her condition came to light.
It is reported that Jacintha's daughter Velita received a call on August 23 from a nurse who said that Jacintha was brought to a hospital by her employer's family. When the Embassy followed up with Kafil, he reportedly confirmed that Jacintha had a headache and weakness and she was being treated at the hospital.
The police arrested James who was instrumental in trafficking Jacintha to Saudi Arabia, a few weeks ago. However, the police have not yet arrested another agent Shabha Khan who reportedly took money from kafil for trafficking Jacintha.
Meanwhile, The Human Rights Protection Foundation, Udupi that has been striving for Jacintha's release had appealed to the official Embassy of India, Riyadh. The Indian Embassy's Consulate of Jeddah contacted the relative and appealed for Jacintha's release but in vain. He had stated that she would not be sent back till he was paid 24,000 Saudi Riyal and her two-year contract is over.
