Mallika's labour of love
Indian dancer and social activist Mallika Sarabhai is to perform in front of construction workers at labour camps in Dubai.
Sarabhai, a Gujarat-based performer and development worker, will appear at camps at Sonapur and Al Quoz operated by building companies Al Falah and ETA, which employ hundreds of Indians.
The shows are part of an Indian Consulate programme organised in association with leading construction companies that will see the internationally acclaimed dancer appear in a series of performances for workers.
Sarabhai, one of the best known Bharat Natyam and Kuchipudi dancers, said the series, called Empowering the Workforce, would reflect the daily lives of workers and help raise awareness of issues that concerned them.
"The show will be entirely different from my normal performance and the theme has been conceived exclusively for blue-collar Indian workers in the UAE who are facing many problems, mainly psychological distress," she said.
Sarabhai has worked in a number of fields, including dance, theatre, television, film, writing and publishing, and her company, Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, has performed in several countries. She is well known for using dance, music and theatre to educate and raise social awareness.
"Two shows each will be performed on November 19 and 20 at the Sonapur and Al Quoz labour camps run by Al Farah and ETA," she said. "Workers from other construction companies such as Al Ahmedia, Arabtech and Dulsco will also enjoy these shows.
"Indian workers and their families sacrifice many things and often develop psychological problems and loss of self-worth. Sometimes they become addicted to alcohol."
She has conceived and directed many development programmes, including the Acting Healthy Project, which trains tribal youths from the Chhota Udepur region of Gujarat as actor-activists. She has directed many Unicef rural development projects among HIV-infected patients in rural areas.
Consul-General Venu Rajmony said the performances in the UAE would be the first in a series of initiatives and the consulate was planning to run similar programmes at a number of other labour camps.
Dr KM Aansari, a leading Indian psychologist in the UAE and member of the Emirates Psychology Association, said Indian workers here faced environmental mismatch and psychological problems. "Separation anxiety disorder is a major psychological issue facing workers," he said.
"How can a high-profile performer like Mallika Sarabhai influence low-profile workers? The effort should be put into creating small groups of workers in camps and spotting leaders who can organise such events themselves."
Keep up with the latest business news from the region with the Emirates Business 24|7 daily newsletter. To subscribe to the newsletter, please click here.