The craze for Gulf jobs is catching up in rural Tamil Nadu after Dubai started emerging out of the recent downturn.

On Wednesday, there was a huge line up of recruiting masons, helpers, technicians and mechanics for Kuwait, and a thousand men from far away towns and villages had gathered there with hopes running high to attend interview for Gulf jobs.

The youth felt one could make good money by going to the Gulf. A few like Ramesh and Selvam and over a hundred others from far away villages near Tirunelveli and Kallakurichi hoped to get the job of a helper, which could get them a monthly salary of 60 to 100 Kuwaiti Dinars Rs 9,900 to Rs 16,500 approximately.

Thirusubramanian hailing from a village near Pattukottai said a local job would not get him the same salary. “Also, food and accommodation is free,” he added. Some people even said the tag of ‘Gulf-returnee’ would improve their chances at getting a ‘good bride’.

A diploma holder in mechanical engineering, Vikram said he was hunting for a job in the Gulf as he could not find a suitable placement in India. “I hope I get the job of a technical assistant which could fetch me at least 250 Kuwaiti Dinars (Rs 41,250),” he said, adding that such a salary will satisfy him and he cannot earn it here even if he tries.