Bahrain, November 16: Indian authorities have identified districts from where women are being trafficked to the Gulf and other countries. According to Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, who is currently visiting Bahrain, the major concern was women travelling abroad from India. ”There is a network in two or three districts from where women travel abroad illegally,” Ravi said. He also added that the state government had been urged to act swiftly to break human trafficking rackets. Ravi was speaking at a press conference at the Indian Embassy in Adliya that was co-chaired by Ambassador Mohan Kumar. “We continue to receive labour complaints on our 24-hour hotline, but I must say the number of cases from Bahrain has dropped,” said Kumar. “This can be attributed to our system of following up each case and dealing with it promptly.”
During the meeting, Mr Kumar said the Indian minister had discussed travel bans imposed by employers with Foreign Ministry officials. “Bahrain authorities are in favour of a special court for expatriates to put the travel ban cases on the fast track. This is a judicial procedure that is under consideration and will benefit all expatriates,” said Mr Kumar. Those placed under a travel ban at the request of their Bahraini employers are unable to renew their residence permit and as a result cannot obtain a work visa. The diplomat also said that there was still no date fixed for a “VVIP” delegation from Bahrain to visit India. Ravi also said the 10th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in Jaipur, Rajasthan, from January 7 to 9, 2012.