Balangir: A 30-year-old woman from Balangir district, who was sold by her husband to a United Arab Emirates (UAE) national in 2019, has finally returned to India on June 7 after enduring seven years of hardship. Currently in Mumbai, she is set to return to her village in the Titilagarh block, where her three daughters, living with their grandparents, await her homecoming.

Her return from the UAE was made possible through the collaborative efforts of the Indian Consulate in Dubai, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and financial support from the Indian Community Welfare Fund. According to her family, the woman and her husband had traveled to Mumbai in search of work in 2019, during which her husband sold her to a UAE national to work as a maid.

She briefly returned to India in 2022 with her employer, but after going back to the Gulf, her family lost all contact with her. Allegedly, her sponsor illegally retained her passport, severely limiting her ability to travel or communicate. As time passed without news, her family’s anxiety grew, prompting them to seek help from local authorities and social activists. A social worker eventually brought the issue to the attention of the Odisha High Court.

The case gained traction when a video of her pleading for assistance circulated on social media, prompting authorities to intensify efforts to locate her. Officials at the Indian Consulate in Dubai coordinated with Emirati authorities to verify her identity through official records. Upon locating her, they found she was in dire financial straits and lacked the means to return to India.

Reports indicate that the consulate arranged temporary housing and essential supplies for her. Her flight back home was organized with support from the Indian Community Welfare Fund, which also covered her ticket costs. After completing the necessary paperwork, she was granted permission to travel back to India.