Punjab Families Turn to MP After Women Stranded in Oman Miss Family Funerals
Two distressed families from Punjab have urgently sought the intervention of Rajya Sabha member Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal. Their plea comes after two women, currently stranded in Oman, faced heartbreaking situations. Both women were unable to return home for the last rites of their close family members.
A Mother's Unbearable Grief
In one deeply tragic case, a mother could not see her terminally ill eight-year-old son before his death. She also missed his cremation entirely. Mangat Singh from Muktsar shared the painful details. His son, Navdeep, passed away last week after battling blood cancer.
The family made a difficult decision. They kept the body in the hospital for over a week. They waited for the child's mother to return from Oman. They insisted the cremation would only happen after her arrival.
Mangat Singh explained why his wife went abroad. The high cost of their son's treatment pushed the family into heavy debt. To support the household, his wife traveled to Oman in September last year. She took up domestic work in Muscat.
Broken Promises and Desperate Pleas
According to Mangat Singh, agents had promised her a monthly salary of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000. She worked there for three months without any complaint. When their son's condition turned critical, she immediately asked her employers for permission to return to India.
Despite her repeated and desperate requests, she received a shocking response. She was told she could only leave if she paid an exorbitant amount in lakhs. Unable to arrange such a large sum, she kept pleading to see her ailing child. Her employers denied her permission every time.
This cruel denial had a devastating consequence. The mother could not meet her son one last time. She could not attend his cremation. Mangat Singh narrated this entire ordeal to Baba Seechewal in Sultanpur Lodhi on Saturday evening.
Another Family's Agony in Tarn Taran
The second case involves a woman from Tarn Taran. She is also stranded in Oman. She could not return for the last rites of her husband, Rasal Singh.
Her family waited for several days. They hoped she would be allowed to come home. When there was no progress, they faced a grim reality. They were forced to perform the cremation without her. Her return has still not been finalized, leaving the family in prolonged distress.
MP Takes Swift Action
MP Sant Balbir Singh Seechewal has taken up both cases urgently. He said he brought these matters to the notice of the Ministry of External Affairs. He requested swift intervention from the ministry.
Seechewal expressed deep concern. He noted that such incidents from Oman are frequently reported. However, he found these two cases particularly disturbing. They involve a mother missing her child's cremation and a wife being unable to attend her husband's last rites.
The MP's intervention highlights a critical issue affecting many Indian migrant workers. Families are now hoping for a prompt resolution and the safe return of their loved ones.
