Udupi couple tell of Libya nightmare after safe return

March 6, 2011

Udupi, March 6: “It's a war like situation indeed…We had to simply evacuate behind everything we earned…” This is how Dr Giridhar Kamath and his wife Dr Vrinda Kamath, the professor couple, who returned their home in Udupi safely, last Saturday from conflict-torn Libya expressed their frustration and helplessness.

The couple had been to Libya along with their only daughter Ashwini, who is now a four year old cute girl.

The husband and wife were serving as professors of Prostodontics and Forensic Medicine respectively at the Sebha University Medical College, in Sebha, a semi urban area loyal to Libyan Strongman Muammar Qadafi, since October 2009.

“The situation there was literally terrifying. Even the small boys were made to handle the light machine guns with live cartridges. Truckloads of armed men were on a route march firing in air”, said Dr Vrinda.

“While coming back, we were forced to cough up four times, for Libyan Dinar to US currency conversion”, she said.

Dr Giridhar said: “Last week Indian Embassy asked us to get ready to leave Libya. In a hurry we could not get the official channels for money conversion. We were forced to do that in a black market. In the process we lost all that we earned in the last one and a half year”

He said, “In fact pro Qadafi men are ruling the Sebha. They are supplied with guns to shoot at sight the traitors or anti Qadafi citizens. They are conducting routine night checks and surprise checks on the houses”.

The Libian government announced an incentive of 500 Libyan Dinar per head, to the Libian citizens working for the government. Likewise, their home rentals (government provides homes to government servants on rental basis) were also waived off. Government's that move scared us and we decided to leave, he added.

Dr Giridhar also said that they do not have plans to return to Libya, even if the situation returns to normal, as they were on a two years contract.

Replying a question Vrinda also said that Dr Shanawaz Manippadi and Dr Abdul Sattar from Mangalore were also living in Sebha.

“Shanavaz had come back home on a vacation and as soon as the violence erupted we informed him not to return to Libya. Abdul Sattar returned to India in the same flight we returned”, she added.

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No more agency jobs? Karnataka panel pushes for end to job outsourcing by 2028

News Network

November 21,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 21: The Karnataka government is facing pressure to overhaul its employment system after a high-level Cabinet sub-committee recommended the complete phase-out of job outsourcing in government offices, boards, and corporations by March 2028. The move is aimed at tackling a systemic issue that has led to the potential violation of constitutional reservation policies and the exploitation of workers.

The Call for Systemic Change

With over three lakh vacant posts currently being filled through private agencies on an outsource, insource, or daily wage basis, the sub-committee highlighted a significant lapse. "As a result, reservations are not being followed as per the Constitution and state laws. It’s an urgent need to take serious steps to change the system. It has been recommended to completely stop the system of outsourcing by March 2028," the panel stated in a document.

The practice of outsourcing involves private companies hiring workers to perform duties for a government agency. Critics argue this model results in lesser salaries, a lack of social security benefits (otherwise available to permanent government employees), and a failure to adhere to the provisions of Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and prohibit discrimination.

The 'Bidar Model' as a Stop-Gap Solution

To regulate the current mode of employment and reduce worker exploitation until the 2028 deadline, the government plans to establish workers’ services multi-purpose cooperative societies across all districts, following the successful "Bidar Model."

The Bidar District Services of Labour Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Ltd., which operates under the District Commissioner, is cited as a successful example of providing a measure of social security to outsourced staff. Labour Department officials argue this society ensures workers receive their due wages and statutory facilities like ESI (Employees' State Insurance) and PF (Provident Fund), in exchange for a 1% service fee collected from the employees.

legislative push and Priority Insourcing

The recommendations, led by the sub-committee headed by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, are set to be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting. The committee has proposed the introduction of the Karnataka Outsourced Employees (Regulation, Placement and Welfare) Bill 2025.

In a move addressing immediate concerns, Labour Minister Santosh Lad, a member of the sub-committee, has reportedly assured that steps will be taken over the next 2-3 years to insource workers in "life-threatening services" on a priority basis. This includes essential personnel like pourakarmikas (sanitation workers), drivers, electrical staff in the Energy Department, and Health Department staff handling contagious diseases. The transition aims to grant these workers the long-term security and benefits they currently lack under the outsourcing system.

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