Mangaluru: A man from Dakshina Kannada district, who had been facing several hardships from his kafil (sponsor) in Kuwait since the last one year, has finally been rescued; thanks to the Indian Social Forum (ISF).Hameed Islam, 51, a resident of Ilanthila in Belthangady , is back with his family after functionaries of the ISF obtained details of the kafil from the Kuwaiti government and held several rounds of talks with him.In order to support his family, Hameed went to work in Kuwait in 2013. He worked as a cook at a restaurant, and managed to send just enough money back home. All was well for the first four years, until he arrived on a vacation in the first half of 2017. In the meantime, the kafil and his associate, a Yemeni, had a rift regarding the business, making Hameed’s future look bleak.After a few months, the Yemeni called Hameed back, assuring him iqama (residency visa) and a job. In September last year, Hameed travelled back to Kuwait and continued working as a cook, albeit under another kafil. As the days passed, Hameed realised that his previous kafil had blocked his civil identity and legal cases were slapped on him. The incumbent kafil took advantage of the situation. Though he renewed the iqama, he made Hameed work forcefully without any pay for 9 months. Hameed found it tough to even get food and afford accommodation, let alone sending some money back home.On learning about the plight of Hameed, one of his relatives came in touch with members of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), who in turn contacted the ISF.Soon, functionaries of the ISF swung into action. They contacted the Kuwaiti authorities and got in touch with the kafil. After a month of negotiations, Hameed was finally allowed to leave.Missed mother’s funeralDuring the last one year, Hameed missed perhaps the two most important events of his life – his mother’s funeral and his daughter’s wedding. “My mother passed away on April 29 this year and my daughter got married on July 1. Due to a ban on my travelling outside Kuwait, I missed both these events. Even as the two events were happening, I was doing the dishes and cooking meals for my employers,” recalled Hameed. He is now back in his village and has decided to take up odd jobs back home.Four rescues late last yearIn November and December last year, the ISF had rescued three youth and a woman in two separate cases in Saudi Arabia. While the woman was under house arrest by her employer, the three youth from the erstwhile undivided Dakshina Kannada district were deceived by their employer.

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