Hundreds of girls from northeastern India are working in different airlines in cities. It is an encouraging sign, but a few mindless activities by them have resulted in many life threatening cases. Following the cases reported to me for justice has been an eye-opener for me and other girls as well as their parents back homes.
I too had a feeling that the girls, who were working in airlines with a fat pay, flying to coveted cities, 5-star life, were enjoying excellent life. However, after hearing these cases, I have a different opinion now. These girls from small towns of northeastern India, especially novice airhostesses, become really vulnerable in the skies, miles above the ground.
Some cases:
A 22-year- old airhostess came to me depressed after a night-out with some foreigners. She had gone for a disco party and got drunk. In the morning, she found herself abandoned inside a van at aparking place in South Delhi, with deep wounds of love bites all over her body. She also realized that her modesty was outraged. All her foreigner friends had left India by morning flights. Although she came to see me out of shame, she didn’t want to file case. She didn’t even inform her family.
In another case, a 26-year-old airhostess was living together with a married pilot for five years. She is now suffering from anemia after undergoing two life-threatening abortions. As her parent started looking for a husband for her, she came for legal action. When I suggested to file a rape case, she back off. She now lives with frail health, grounded from flying.
Another airhostess had a quick marriage at Arya Samaj temple after so-called love affairs without parent consent with her “caring” boy friend –a doctor by profession in Delhi. They went for honeymoon to Goa and Ooty and continued relationship for five years. She exhausted all her saving and the doctor obtained an MD degree and shifted to a city in southern India. He then began avoiding her. When she came to my office for justice I asked her why she didn’t involve her parents. She had no answer and now leads a depressed life.
There are more heart-rending cases. An airhostess, who was God-fearing and teetotaler in the beginning, is now addicted to liquor and intoxicating substances, leading an indiscipline life. This affected his duties and she, was sacked. An under graduate, she is now desperately looking for a job in Delhi. She asked me to recommend her to some known company for a job.
Another airhostess in her late 30s married as second wife with an elderly rich man from mainland. She is now she is feeling lonely and abandoned as her husband spends most of his time with his first wife and children, as she has no children.
A boy was promised steward job in airline and paid 200,000 rupees at Sikkim. He is still hanging around in Delhi for a job in an airline. He too asked me to recommend him to some aviation companies.
Young people from northeast also fall prey to human traffickers. Many young girls are brought to Delhi by some agents, even from northeastern states, promising jobs at Airport. Many have paid 100,000 rupees each as guarantee fee to the agents. However, most of them worked as menial workers for months, with no airlines jobs in sight.
Such cases are increasing day by day.
An analysis of these cases shows that most victims come from small northeastern town, enamored by the fancies of city’s life. They are mostly immature about hire and fire system of this unpredictable airlines sector.
Most have become addiction to alcohol, night parties as they hang around night clubs after joining airline services. Their parents seem to have no idea about their life style in the cities.
These girls hardly mix with community associations of northeast or church groups. They seem lost in those ephemeral flights of fancy of midair life. Most do not bother to go for higher studies as the starry fancies flights mesmerize them.
They live alone in rented houses, mostly in posh colonies.
It is high time we informed our people of northeastern India, especially the youth, who aspire to join volatile services such as airlines. They have to careful before taking off from their homes in search of miles-high flight of fancies in blue sky.
IGP Robin Hibu IPS, is the Nodal Officer for North East People, Delhi.