Daijiworld Media Network – Bahrain (EP)
Bahrain, May 8: Kannadigas here are safe from coronavirus, stated Karnataka non-resident Indian committee Bahrain president, Leeladhar Baikampady in a press release.
Clarifying the common notions about the hardships faced by them he said that the infected people were less so far in Bahrain and the medical fraternity is indulged in treating them and identifying new victims. Most of the infected persons have returned home after getting cured. There are a few non-resident Indians among those who are recovering but no Kannadigas.
The local government has taken necessary precautions regarding the pandemic since the beginning such as lockdown, social distance, mandatory mask, voluntary medical tests etc. Therefore, the pandemic is under control and the measures are commended by the world health organization also.
Meanwhile, there are rumours in social media and other media that the local government has asked the residents not to leave and medical facilities are not available. Those rumours are far from reality. If at the all those were true, the local government and the Indian embassy have solved them on time.
However, some resident Indians are eager to travel back. As there are no distant travel facilities, they are stranded. Some of them are pregnant women; those who are needed for medical help in the motherland, senior citizens, those who had arrived on visit and business purposes and those who had come to visit relatives or on vacation.
The Indian government has made arrangements to bring back Indians stranded from all over the world and it is satisfactory that the government has arranged two aircraft to bring Indians from Bahrain.
There is no doubt that the future of the Kannadigas in Bahrain and the Gulf region is unstable. The markets that were badly affected due to diving global and regional economies are devastated by the coronavirus before they could recover. Many non-resident Indians are likely to lose their jobs or experience a large number of pay cuts. Those who are returning to India on a permanent basis may have to forego gratuity, leave salary, compensation for losing jobs, travel allowance etc.
The government in India or the state governments have not planned rehabilitation or other facilities for people returning to India. The non-resident Indian committee has become obsolete without leaders.
The country has not thought about the welfare of the non-resident Indians. Therefore, there is no doubt that their future will be insecure, he stated.