Title - hELPING HANDS reach out to allay fears

They serve dishes in hotels, guard our offices and apartment complexes, clean your office cubicles and give you a haircut in the saloons. Today, they feel threatened and want to go home.
    “I’ve been working in Bangalore for the past 12 years, but never thought this would happen,” said Ganga Brahma, from Sonitpur in Assam. He’s been a security guard, office helper and hotel service boy on MG Road, Brigade Road and Sarjapur. His sister works in a salon in BTM Layout. They stay with two families from the same village.
    “These people came to Bangalore for a livelihood only when they heard I’ve been able to do well here. It’s my responsibility to take them home safely. Neither do we have enough money nor are we getting tickets to go home. Look at the little babies!” he cried.
    He earns Rs 10,000 per month and sends half of it to his parents. He said the owners of the apartment where he lives aren’t returning his security deposit of Rs 25000. “The company didn’t pay us when we needed it the most,” said Brahma.
    It’s been a three-month stint in Bangalore for Bimal Gogoi, 17, of Udalguri of Assam. “I came to work with my uncle who is a security guard at an apartment. He got me a job at an apartment in Marathahalli,” he said. He has earned Rs 12,000 and wanted to earn money for his sister’s marriage. “My elder brother works in Guwahati but the salary is not enough to sustain the family. I thought I could make a decent living here,” he says. Bimal said his parents called him and asked him to return.
    Some others faced harassment from unknown faces. “Two men caught me by my collar. They asked me if I was from Assam. I was shocked,” said Akash. “I kept quiet for a while and replied, ‘No, I’m a Bengali from Kolkata’. They released me and left,” he added.


FEAR RULES: All efforts by college authorities and government to bring solace seem to have little impact on these worried faces