Eight more Punjabi women who were stranded in Muscat, Oman, have been safely brought back to Punjab. This successful operation was made possible through the efforts of Rajya Sabha MP from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Vikramjit Singh Sahney, who has been actively rescuing Punjabi women in distress in the Middle East. Sahney played a significant role in rescuing 15 girls in the past two weeks alone. Today, he announced that efforts are underway to bring back 18 more women from Muscat who have sought his help. Alongside him, Baba Balbir Singh Seechewal, another RS member, has successfully brought back over half a dozen girls in the past couple of months, with many more reaching out to his office for assistance. Providing details of the recent rescue mission, Sahney informed The Indian Express that today, 15 stranded women from Oman were reunited with their families as they arrived at Indira Gandhi International Airport. This successful reunion was a result of the 'Hope' initiative launched by Sahney, aimed at rescuing and repatriating stranded Punjabi women. In the mission's previous week, seven girls were rescued, followed by eight more today. Sahney revealed that these women had been lured by unscrupulous agents and fake manpower consultants who deceived them with false promises of employment in Oman. Out of the 34 girls identified in the past two weeks, Sahney's efforts, in coordination with the Indian Embassy and the Oman Government, have led to the reunion of 15 girls with their families. He also mentioned that a team from his Parliament office visited Muscat to interact with the stranded girls, ensuring their well-being and support through the provision of langar (community kitchen) facilities in shelter homes. As the International President of the World Punjabi Organisation, Sahney expressed his commitment to bringing back stranded Punjabi girls in Oman. He stated that the rescued girls would be offered free skill training at the World Class Skill Centre in Delhi and the Multi-Speciality Skill Development Centre in Amritsar, with a strong emphasis on providing them sustainable livelihood opportunities in Punjab. Sahney assured that strict action would be taken against the agents responsible for these fraudulent practices. Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Sahney urged people to exercise caution and verify the authenticity of agents before getting involved with them. He emphasized the importance of focusing on skill development and employment opportunities within Punjab, urging youth to stay close to their families rather than being misled into precarious situations abroad. The majority of the rescued girls hail from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, driven to seek a better future for their families. Sahney has reached out to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav, notifying them about the ongoing rescue operations and the need for an awareness drive at the village level. He expressed gratitude to the DGP's office for filing FIRs against the agents involved in these unlawful practices. Baba Seechewal has also been actively advocating for the cause, consistently communicating with the Ministry of External Affairs to bring these girls back home safely. He has personally funded the tickets for several girls, urging others not to fall prey to such agents and calling on the government to take extensive awareness measures at the grassroots level. The plight of Punjabi women being lured to Oman under false pretenses has been a growing concern for several months. These women are enticed with promises of work as domestic helpers ’ or ‘caretakers’ at a good salary. After landing there they (Women) find themselves in the captivity of some local agents who take their passports, and phones and force them to sign extortionist agreements. A woman Express interviewed last week said her agent tried to force her into immoral trafficking.
