------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.goacom.org/casa-de-goa/noticias.html -------------------------------------------------------
--- "Peter F. Borges" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > NEW DELHI (AFP) - India will ban women under 30 from > emigrating to work as > domestic help in the Gulf and parts of Africa and > Southeast Asia in a bid to > curb sex trafficking, a report said Tuesday. > ---------------------------------------- I have to wonder why India always comes up with lopsided solutions to its problems. Is there some genius that sits in a babudom bureaucratic office that comes up with these glorious solutions? If the rate of foetocide is appalling ban ultra-sound technicians from revealing gender, if HIV is spreading, make a pre-marital HIV test mandatory. Always ensure that you place a band-aid on the problem rather than treat it effectively. First of all it is highly unethical to stop anyone from taking up foreign employment. Just because this section of society to too weak to protest the decision taken, the government will ensure that it gets away with it. What if a report reveals tomorrow that all accountants exported to the Gulf are harshly treated (as indeed they are). Will they too be stopped from taking up postings in the Gulf? No, because the C/As of India will organise themselves and create havoc. Secondly, this move will stop a substantial number of people from earning a legitimate livelihood. For every one maid that is mistreated and trafficked, there are ten that are earning a respectable and legitimate living under decent conditions. Many of these are employed by Indians themselves living abroad. Thirdly, let me assure the Indian government that if emigration of maids is disallowed tomorrow, the trafficking will continue under some other guise. The occupation on the visa application will simply show secretary or receptionist. So, a large section of society will be denied a living while no gains will be made in their attempt to halt sex trafficking. The real solution to this is (a) with the number of Indians that work in the Gulf, it is incumbent on the Indian government to exercise its power and ensure that passports cannot be withheld by the employer (a horrendous violation in Gulf countries) and must remain the sole property of its original custodian. (b) There must be visible, effective and numerous outreach programmes run by the Indian government, in the Gulf countries, open to members of its community who are in trouble and seeking protection from such unscrupulous employers. This is the only tangible way they will be able to help and reach out to maids and any employee that is being harassed in the Gulf. selma ____________________________________________________________________________________ Don't get soaked. Take a quick peak at the forecast with the Yahoo! Search weather shortcut. http://tools.search.yahoo.com/shortcuts/#loc_weather ------------------------------------------------------- Goanet recommends, and is proud to be associated with, 'Domnic's Goa' - A nostalgic romp through a bygone era. This book is the perfect gift for any Goan, or anyone wanting to understand Goa. Distributed locally by Broadway, near Caculo Island, Panjim & internationally by OtherIndiaBookStore.Com. For trade enquiries contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------------------------------------
