http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=153017&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29153
Family suicides worker stranded
By BEGENA GEORGE
Published: 20 August 2006
A FREE-VISA Indian worker, whose financial problems allegedly resulted in the suicides of three of his relatives, is now stranded in Bahrain.
Ayyadurai Pavadai, aged 38, has been working in Bahrain for the last three years, but has allegedly been told by his Bahraini sponsor that he will not get his passport back unless he pays BD300.
He says he spent around BD1,350 on a visa and travel costs to come to Bahrain, which meant his father had to sell their only family property for Rs65,000 (BD600) to pay off the mounting interest and part of the principal amount.
http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/Story.asp?Article=153017&Sn=BNEW&IssueID=29153
Family suicides worker stranded
By BEGENA GEORGE
Published: 20 August 2006
A FREE-VISA Indian worker, whose financial problems allegedly resulted in the suicides of three of his relatives, is now stranded in Bahrain.
Ayyadurai Pavadai, aged 38, has been working in Bahrain for the last three years, but has allegedly been told by his Bahraini sponsor that he will not get his passport back unless he pays BD300.
He says he spent around BD1,350 on a visa and travel costs to come to Bahrain, which meant his father had to sell their only family property for Rs65,000 (BD600) to pay off the mounting interest and part of the principal amount.
Mr Pavadai’s father, brother and sister-in-law have reportedly committed suicide in a span of just a few months as a result of the debt.
“He was finding it very hard to even pay for his own survival here with the low-paying odd jobs he did as a free-visa worker,” said Tamil Social and Cultural Association (TASCA) member Pada Lingan, who is helping Mr Pavadai with the support of the Indian Embassy.
“When the interest began escalating, Mr Pavadai’s father sold their small paddy field, which was the family’s only source of income to pay the moneylender,” he said.
“But the elder brother, who did not approve of the sale, blamed the father for losing their source of livelihood. The father could not bear it and committed suicide.
“The villagers criticised the brother for being responsible for his father’s death and due to a guilty consciousness he too took his life.
“Not long after the two tragedies, the brother’s wife was devastated and also killed herself.
“After the series of suicides and the family being looked upon as unfortunate by everyone, Mr Pavadai’s wife left the house with their two children – leaving behind the old and partially blind mother.” Mr Pavadai has reportedly been issued an emergency out pass by the embassy, but his sponsor – a duty manager at a Juffair hotel – reportedly refuses to co-operate, avoids calls and summons from officials.
“Mr Pavadai is completely shattered after the tragedy and blames himself for the death of his relatives,” said Mr Lingan
“Along with the members of his family, his dreams of a happy life have died and now he has nothing to look forward to.
“His struggle to feed his family is over and all he wants is to go back to what is left of his kin. “The embassy had issued him an emergency exit around three months ago, but he still can’t leave because his sponsor does not co-operate.”
An embassy spokesman said that it would do everything possible to help Mr Lingan and it was trying to work out a deal with the sponsor.
© Gulf Daily News