Paapi Pet ka Sawaal

Yesterday, I was copied in an inhouse mail urging us to give cash gift to the house keeping guy who is going back to get married at Chennai. His marriage depends on whether and when Management will give him leave. I have been observing since I entered CS International Airport at Mumbai that lot of guys come from India for menial job. Earlier I thought that may be they get good money but seeing all that data in WC and GPA policies I realise that the salaries for menial jobs is quite low. This house keeping guy gets around INR 4500 equivalent pm and may be he makes 2000 more by doing extra jobs on weekends. I am sure he can earn that much back home also. And what does he get coming here... he will go for his marriage.... come back in 15 days leaving the wife behind and then he gets to go back to her after 2 years. I dont know what kind of feeling this generates inside me- pity, frustration, anger or sorrow. To top it all these guys stay in labour camps all cramped up with very minimum amenities. And back home people think that this guy is working abroad.

And if you aint aware the passport is kept by the employer/sponsor and some of them take heavy loans to pay to the agencies recruiting people for middle east. No wonder every day I read so many ads giving absconding employee details and warning others not to employ them. Bandhua Majdoor ka modern version..... Pakis, Indians and Bangladeshis form a major cunk of this labour class. Over population is the only reason which forces this plight. Anjana and I did our bit by having one child.... Indians having more than one child should be incrementally taxed.

Now this is for you insurance guys and gals. Back home I never ever experienced a Fidelity Claim. (Non insurance guys dont race into Marital Infidelity) This place Fidelity claims are rampant. Expats simply vanish with money stocks and what not...... Last week saw an interesting such fidelity claim. 20,000 litres of gasoline was put as a fidelity claim. I was zapped. Actually it was the Pakistani driver who had to deliver a tanker load around or beyond Dubai border. For this reason he had to be handed his passport. This frustrated guy sold of the petrol on the way, abandoned the tanker and flew back home. I had to make good the loss but still have full sympathy for the guy. Most of the referrals which I am seeing have claims in Fidelity portfolio.....

Coming back to the housekeeping guy- everyone here is advising him not to come back. He also agrees but then his family wants him not to stay back..... beta foreign me hai is a status symbol for them.

I had read that late Dhirubhai Ambani used to work abroad at some Petrol Bunk as a vending guy. But how many progress and set up Reliance? Rest are doomed to be unsung labours behind all the glitter and shine of mega malls, Al Burz's et al.

P.S.: I ran away from India as I was subjected to the labour camp plight by my wife and wanted to teach lesson to the Finance Minister by reducing their income tax earnings. I am sure by now both must have realised. So if you get some tax relief this time you know whom to thank.