The glamour of foreign countries and dreams of a better future are today turning into a living hell for many Indian women. In countries like Oman, a dangerous network of human trafficking has spread under the guise of fake job promises, with daughters from poor and vulnerable families becoming its primary victims. Tragically, in many cases, the person responsible for pushing them into this trap turns out to be a close relative.Due to the continuous efforts of Rajya Sabha Member and Environmentalist Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal, four more Indian women stranded in Oman have been safely brought back to India. Among them are three women from Punjab and one from Kerala. With this, the total number of women rescued and brought back by Sant Seechewal has now reached 130.Today, a victim from Kapurthala district met Sant Seechewal at Nirmal Kuteya in Sultanpur Lodhi and shared her painful ordeal. She revealed that in May 2024, she travelled to Oman at the insistence of a relative, who later abandoned her there and returned to India. Upon arrival in Oman, her passport was forcibly confiscated and she was made to sign compulsory two-year contracts against her will.The victim stated that despite extreme hard work, she was not paid any salary. She was subjected to physical assault, mental harassment and inhuman treatment over minor issues. When she demanded to return to India, the sponsors demanded lakhs of rupees or pressured her to bring more women to Oman in exchange for her release.Making a shocking disclosure, the victim claimed that around 100 Indian women are still trapped in similar conditions in Oman. She explained that whenever one woman manages to return home, the trafficking gang immediately replaces her with another victim. Due to increased legal restrictions, returning to India without the sponsor’s permission has now become nearly impossible.While expressing gratitude to the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Embassy in Oman, Sant Seechewal urged the Central Government to take the strictest possible action against international human trafficking syndicates. He also appealed to the people of Punjab to remain vigilant and not send their daughters abroad based on false promises or unverified agents. He emphasised that awareness remains the most powerful tool to combat this heinous crime.
