Hostage crisis doesn't stop dream merchants' drive

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">HOSHIARPUR: The hostage crisis in Iraq may not be over, but recruitment companies are busy advertising for "Tralla" (trailer) drivers for Kuwait. And, never mind that Antaryami, one of the Indian hostages from Una, who went to Kuwait on an employment visa was sent to Iraq by trucking companies.<br /><br />A placement company wants to recruit 200 trailer drivers for Kuwait according to an advertisement in a vernacular newspaper on July 25.To apply, the truck drivers should have Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) licence (valid or expired) or an Indian one. The advertisement asks drivers to appear for an interview at their offices in Kapurthala road, Jalandhar, and Industrial Area, Mohali, on Tuesday and Wednesday. This correspondent calls up both offices posing as a prospective applicant.<br /><br />At Jalandhar, the man at the other end says he is from Poonam Enterprises. "<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Main apne bhatije nu bhejna hai</span>." (I want to send my nephew,) I begin. "<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Haanji</span>" (yes), You can come any time till 5 o''clock. Get a photocopy of the passport along with the original document, work certificate and 8 passport-size photos," he says. When I voice fears that my nephew may end up in Iraq, the man replies: "<span style="" font-style:="" italic="">Bhaji dikat vali koi gal nahi</span>." (nothing to worry, elder brother.)<br /><br />Then I call up the Mohali office. This time the call is taken by a woman. Posing as a farmer from Ropar, I ask: "I hope my nephew won’t be sent to Iraq". "Don''t worry, they will give it in writing," she hastens to assure me.<br /><br />When I ask how much money would be needed, the woman says: "Rs 70,000-72,000 should be okay. Meet Pargat Singh, the owner of the company, in Jalandhar on Wednesday. Your nephew will be sent on three years employment visa. KBR trucking company will pay him Rs 21,000 per month as well as food."<br /><br />However, Pargat denies that any recruitment is going on. He says the advertisement was placed earlier (25/07/2004) and he had forgotten to tell his workers that the plan has changed.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What it takes</span><br /><br />Recruitment for Kuwait firms on despite the hostage crisis.<br /><br />It takes anything between Rs 70,000 to Rs 1 lakh to go to Kuwait on a salary of Rs 21,000 per month.</div> </div>