“Children's education is my priority and aid helped me,” says a returnee migrant worker That aid helped my children to go to school 38-year-old Varghese Pereira Markose returned on the last flight from Mauritius to Kerala, India, in March 2020 as the airports were shutting down due to the Covid-19 outbreak. He worked there for ten years as a fire and safety foreman. The salary was too low, and there was not much benefit in continuing there. However, he continued to be there as he knew returning to Kerala and finding a job was not a good option. But he lost his job in Mauritius as the Covid-19 outbreak happened. Unfortunately, while returning, the company didn't pay him his end-of-service benefits. "They hurriedly repatriated me. I didn't get time to question the denial of end-of-service benefits. Additionally, I was afraid of closing down airports and getting stuck in Mauritius. So, with a half mind, I agreed with the company and returned," Varghese added. Returning, I was diagnosed with a certain kind of recurring skin disease. And despite being a fire and safety foreman in foreign countries, it was hard to find a job here. Eventually, money became a problem. Luckily, as we are in a joint family, there are not many expenses. However, I should take care of my children's education. Despite being in lower primary classes, fees and other needs are high. "During the beginning of this academic year, I took a loan from a friend to pay the fee. I was worried over how to repay it," Varghese said, He added that it was then he heard about Kerala-based Trivandrum Social Service Society (TSSS), a non-governmental organization, offering help for those struggling to make ends meet after returning from the Arab Gulf following Covid-19 crisis-led job loss. The TSSS is an associate of the Centre for India Migrant Studies, a partner organization of the Migrant Forum in Asia. "I requested TSSS to help me with Rs20,000 to repay the loan. The TSSS was happy to allot the money," Varghese said. He added that he won't forget that timely help in his life. Varghese now goes fishing in the sea with his elder brother. "Earning is irregular. But it is better when compared with having nothing," Varghese added. 5