A WOMEN’S support group in Bahrain is hoping to reach out to more female domestic workers to make them aware of their rights and protect them from abuse.
The female wing under the Indian Community Relief Fund (ICRF) offers counselling, legal assistance and diplomatic aid and claims to have resolved more than 20 cases of abuse last year.
Wing head Nisha Ranga said while the panel was officially launched in March 2021, it was functional even before as part of ICRF, a 200-member volunteer team which works under the Indian Embassy’s umbrella, assisting in all major campaigns run by the mission to aid its citizens.
“Our aim is to provide Indian expat women with a platform where they can freely discuss issues specific to their health, residency or others,” Ms Ranga told the GDN.
“The goal is to make it easier for women to talk and share their problems with women. We are working to protect women from domestic abuses and from being exploited or influenced in any way.
“Last year, we had about 20 cases, all of which required important interventions that aided the victims precisely, thanks to Indian Embassy and Bahraini officials.”
Ms Ranga highlighted some complex cases, including one involving a pregnant woman who was abandoned by her partner. The wing provided the woman with the necessary legal and medical support, while the Indian Embassy helped her return home.
“We provide food and grocery kits for people who are struggling to make ends meet, and also assist by looking for employers who might hire them,” Ms Ranga said.
“We’ve seen women suffering from depression as a result of abusive employers. We first intervene by providing emotional support and then based on the issue, we handle the case.
“Looking at the number of abuse victims, we see a real and substantial need for the wing to expand its activities.”
The wing has four dedicated 24x7 hotlines (39617094/33052258/39695736/37395593) manned by seven female volunteers. They act as first responders and follow up the cases based on a plan of action.
“We call for volunteers and have an action plan in place, which involves counselling, legal assistance and diplomatic aid, depending on the case,” said Ms Ranga.
“We held some training workshops and have more in the pipeline, mainly aiming at empowering women.
“The goal is to help women be emotionally and financially independent.”
The group conducted several health programmes, the latest being a breast cancer screening for 40 women held in association with the American Mission Hospital (AMH) in October.
“Health is a major area which we wish to further focus on, especially when it comes to domestic workers and low-income groups,” she said.
“They often tend to ignore their health, which later becomes a burden on them as well as the society, and far from home, it can be really a helpless situation.”
ICRF chairman Babu Ramachandran emphasised the ‘challenge’ of helping needy women while condemning unscrupulous recruiters who put them in the dangerous situation.
“We are doing our best with awareness initiatives, but regrettably, rogue agents who lure women with enticing promises of lucrative employment and fail to deliver, are a menace,” Mr Ramachandran said.
“They promise them jobs as administrators or supervisors, but once the women arrive in the country, they are offered roles as domestic help. Many women fall into this trap and are compelled to work because of their financial obligations.
“They cannot escape, and neither can we or the embassy access private residences; the situation is dire.
“There have been cases of abuse even in Indian households in Bahrain.
“I believe, these are just the tip of the iceberg and we want more women to reach out to us through this wing.
“We may not be able to help everyone, but I believe even if one person is saved, a family is rescued – we need to reach deep into society and we are planning to expand the women’s forum with more members and initiatives.”
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