The appalling status of the stranded migrants would not have come into focus but for the TVs and social networking sites taking the issue up forcefully. Thousands thronged Puratchi Thalaivar M G Ramachandran Central Railway station (Chennai in short!), in Mumbai and later in Greater Noida. Indigo came in to assist carrying the stranded from Mumbai to Delhi, but that too hit a wall as the government banned domestic flights soon after that. Migrant labourers, close to a million work in Delhi and suburbs. The internal immigrants’ number 139 million in the country (source: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/10/india-has-139-million-internal-migrants-we-must-not-forget-them/)
The government must have considered these poor labourers while calling for a lockdown, which is glaring and inexcusable. Many of them might have become carriers of the COVID 19 unwittingly forced to ignore the social distancing, espoused by the PM. Instead of creating temporary shelters for them, their employers shut away from the factories and workplaces and their families evicted, forcing them to return to their villages. Now comes the catch; there is no transportation to carry them home! They have no food and no means and start their trek back, some needing four full days to reach their destinations.
The state governments, after coming under flak hurried to clear them away from their respective territories. News of a third sage community spread of the infection is seeping in from various places, which is critical.
The governments, both central and states, are struggling to do their best in the unchartered territory of pandemics. The speed of announcement of the lockdown must match with the speed of the preparedness, particularly concerning human safety, shelter, and relocation.
I hope the millions stranded will reach their homes safe and remain safe wherever they are. All the stranded workers must be provided food and shelter until they are either able to return home or go back to their work.
Sampath Kumar
Intrépid Voix
