Indian expatriate calls for help

Manama : An Indian expatriate who has been living in Bahrain for the past 32 years is in desperate need of help after falling ill.

Not being able to work because of his illness, Aloucias Earnest has piled up debts which he fears he will never be able to pay back unless he receives generous support from donors.  A travel ban has been placed on him because of the debts. 

62 year old Aloucias just wants to go back to India but he will need to clear his debts before he can leave.

“I came here over three decades ago hoping to provide a better life for my family in India. I formed a construction company and it became successful. But the business fell apart four years ago and I have been struggling ever since. I became very ill and was unable to work,” he told DT News

Earnest needs to pay BD3400 to a company in order to clear the travel ban. According to social workers who have been helping him, Indian community members have been chipping in with donations. 

“Indian community members have shown tremendous support for him. We have collected around BD600 so far and support is still pouring in. We will try to collect the BD3400, but if this is not possible we will try to speak with the company officials to ask for a concession,” ICRF volunteer Syed Haneef said.

Apparently Earnest is in a helpless state, struggling even to buy food. 

“I have no money with me at all, not even to buy food and medicine. Few social workers including Syed provide me with food and medicines. My health is deteriorating and I just want to go back to India now,” he laments.