(MENAFN- Arab Times) Over the past four years Indians working overseas have filed 60,608 complaints of harassment with the respective Indian missions, according to Indian government sources. The sources say, most of these complaints are of harassment, sexual and physical abuse, non-payment of salaries, violating mutual agreements, forcing to work around the clock without a day off are from the Gulf States.
The complaints were registered under 12 categories of distress with 32 Indian missions abroad. Saudi Arabia topped the list with 12,495 complaints closely followed by Kuwait 12,110, Qatar 9,786 and the United Arab Emirates 6,212.
The report said 468 complaints were filed from the US and 245 from the UK over the same period. A number of complaints also came from bereaved Indian families about being unable to send or receive the mortal remains of relatives.
The government data shows a large number of complainants have also blamed the country's embassies for failing to provide help. Sources said Indian missions have put in place a number of measures in recent years to address these situations, including appointment of welfare officers, 24/7 help lines, establishment of welfare development funds and financial assistance to Indian women duped by their NRI husbands.
The Embassy in Kuwait has also implemented a number of measures including publishing the officers contact number online, weekly open house with Ambassador etc and has been making strenuous efforts to help those in need.
The embassy has also been bearing the cost of repatriating mortal remains of those who are less fortunate in addition to providing assistance to runaway workers who have been escaping from their sponsors for various reasons.
The Gulf region is the key for New Delhi because nearly seven million Indians living and working in the Gulf have been contributing to the country's economy through regular remittances. This is in addition to other parts of the world.
According to government data, India has the second-largest overseas Diaspora in the world after the Chinese, with over 25 million of its citizens and people with ancestral links spread across every major part of the world.
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