One of the nurses who were stranded in the territory held by Islamic militants in Iraq, being received by relatives upon arrival at the airport in Kochi earlier this month
26-year-old Jensy from Idukki in Kerala has been filling an employment form with urgency. She is among the 15 nurses who did not want to leave war-torn Tikrit in Iraq, despite sleeping with the sounds of bomb explosions and being surrounded by Sunni militants.
The thought that she had to repay nearly Rs. 3 lakh of loan was more haunting than fear of death. Her mother is a labourer and father passed away five years back due to cancer. She is the family's only hope. They had borrowed and sold gold in a hope of a better future.
"I never thought I will have to come back without any money. We knew there would be challenges, but never thought things will become this worse," she said.
Like Jensy, 24-year-old Neena Job too is worried about her future. She breaks into tears thinking about her Rs. 7 lakh loan.
Many nurses from Kerala had moved to Iraq because they were promised a salary of minimum Rs. 45,000, but 15 of them have returned without even getting a penny for all that they laboured. The others haven't got salaries for two months.
"We didn't want to come back. We knew it would be the end for us. We were willing to stay there somehow. We cannot repay anything with the salary we get here in Kerala," says Neena, weeping helplessly.
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said that there has been communication from the Iraqi health minister that the arrears for the 46 nurses - who were stranded in Iraq - would be paid over the next few weeks.
Kerala government has also decided to mediate between possible employers and Indians who've returned from Iraq. Twenty nurses have been offered on the spot jobs. But most have not accepted it yet, saying the minimal salaries of 10,000-13000 for nurses in Kerala can't save them from anything.
The state government's NORKA Wing is acting as the facilitator. Its minister KC Joseph has said that everything possible will be done to help those returning from Iraq with employment opportunities.
Even while in captivity of ISIS militants, few of the nurses asked them if they could help them get their salaries, an indication of their real fears of survival.
Meanwhile, financial assistance has been pouring in for these 46 nurses, to the tune of about Rs 3 lakh per nurse.