‘Most workers lost everything in Iraq conflict’

Nine months ago, Nathuram Kumawat left his home in Rajasthan’s Sikar district for Iraq with the promise of a better life, having secured a job at a construction company in Kirkuk.

Mr. Kumawat (32) worked at a university in Kirkuk as a construction worker for an Iraqi company.

“We went through a local contractor to the Mumbai office of this construction company. There I paid Rs. 65,000 to the company office and another Rs. 5,000 to the agent,” he said.

On Saturday, he arrived in Delhi by the same plane that brought the 46 nurses home. Mr. Kumawat said he and the rest of the Indian workers in Kirkuk wanted to return home, but not on Friday.

“We did not really want to leave that day because the company had promised to pay us our dues next day [Saturday] morning. But the company representatives assured the embassy officials that our dues would be delivered to our homes,” he said.

“I was to receive three months’ salary — Rs. 90,000. The 16 others who left with me also had the same amount of dues. Will they pay us our dues?” he asked.

Most workers, he said, lost everything in the conflict, having paid thousands of rupees to work in Iraq and then having to return prematurely.

Work and living conditions were good till about two months ago, he said. However, with the first spark of conflict in the northern regions, the company officials fled Kirkuk, leaving the workers to their fate.

“We could hear shots being fired outside our university campus. Even bombs going off occasionally. It was not that bad, but it would only have gotten worse,” he said.

“The main problem we faced was of food. After the company people fled, the supplies finished up fast and we had to beg the cops, the security personnel and university staff for food. Some senior university officials would have mercy on us and provide us with food,” he said.

All those who returned, however, were grateful to the Government of India.

“They got us out and paid for our entire travel cost from Kirkuk to our homes. The government did a really good job,” said Mr. Kumawat.