Stranded in Qatar, jobless Goans desperate to return

PANAJI: Ready to pay higher fares or even land in any other state and get quarantined there before arriving in reach Goa, Goans stranded in Qatar, who have lost their jobs, are desperate to return home.
However, there has neither been any Vande Bharat flight to Goa, nor were they considered for any of the charter flights that arrived in India with stranded Indians. “We have been trying to get back home for the past two months. There have been 30-50 flights to India from Qatar, including under the Vande Bharat mission, but Goans haven’t been permitted on these. We don’t mind taking flights to other states and then travelling to Goa by road, but we aren’t being allowed to do this either,” Slanney Lucas told TOI.
“They told us we don’t have the numbers. But if they keep waiting till more Goans lose their jobs, we may die without food and accommodation by then,” he said.
Another Goan, Sawan Naik, had travelled to Qatar on a visit visa and has been stuck there struggling to meet daily expenses. He has been able to get through the past few months only with help from well-wishers. “I have no money for rent or groceries. I have been appealing to the government and embassy, but we are losing hope,” he said.
The group of Goans longing to get back home include pregnant women. “I lost my job in March and have been waiting for a flight to India ever since. There’s not much support for us,” another stranded Goan told TOI.