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People from the Shekhawati region have been migrating to Arab countries in search of work for decades. As per a rough count about 10 lakh people, mostly from Sikar, Churu and Jhunjhunu, are working in various companies in Arab nations.
Due to poor agricultural conditions and lack of job opportunities, young men used to migrate to Kuwait. However, post-Independence the scenario changed and people started moving to Qatar. People, including painters, carpenters, blasters and general
labourers, acquired well-paying jobs in the Gulf countries.
Mohammed Salim, who worked in Qatar for more than 10 years said that
at least one or two members from most families in Shekhawati are working in Gulf countries. Earlier, only menial jobs were available, but these days technical hands too, fetch a good package.
People who get a job with a Gulf-based firm can earn a salary of
about Rs 20,000 to 25,000, including overtime payments, Salim said. They send more than half the salary to their families in
Shekhawati, to run their daily expenses. "Though initially people have to apply
for loans to fund their travelling and lodging, they later repay
them through their earnings," he said. Since food and accommodation are provided by the company people are able to save money.
After Tuesday's incident, where 29 people, including 16 Indians, are feared to have
drowned when the UAE-based vessel capsized near Doha coast, most families are in a state of shock, Salim said. "People are making all possible efforts to contact their family members in Doha and inquire about their well-being," he added.
Another local resident said that there have been two major air crash in the past, in which about 200 people from the region, who were on
their way to Saudi Arabia had died. On January 1, 1978, an Air India Boeing 747, exploded and plunged into the sea minutes after takeoff.
All 213 people onboard died. On November 12, 1996, a mid-air collision between Saudi Arabian Airways Boeing 747 and Kazak Airlines Alyushin 76 killed all 349 people on board.
Source: The Times of India (July 02, 2009)
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