Their never-ending struggle
NEW DELHI: Amid the nationwide lockdown, highways connecting Delhi-NCR has been witnessing heart wrenching pictures as thousands of migrant labourers and daily wagers working in these cities can be seen walking all along to reach their homes.
The sordid state of affair is that among these workers, majority have their families including children, infants and even toddlers who have been waiting for government's help for food and transportation facilities so they can reach their homes safely.
Several railway stations, Anand Vihar inter-state bus terminus besides Delhi-UP border have similar pictures as hundreds of people can be seen gathering since the announcement of shutdown.
The migrant workers are also facing trouble as neither do they have information on how to prevent themselves from this Coronavirus pandemic nor do they have financial assistance to survive the lockdown. "First we will survive and then think of social distancing. Most of us had left towards their homes on foot due to unavailability of transport system. There is no money, food and even roof. I have two children but I can't walk towards my native along with them on foot," said Brijesh, a labrourer from Mathura district, who was on Yamuna expressway to reach his native place.
Owing to the unprecedented situation, people are feeling trapped with no one paying heed towards their plight. Many among them are dependent on each other to survive while some of them have started visiting the nearest overcrowded shelters to have food and return back to the open premises, fearing the possibility of Coronavirus.
"What can we do in such a situation except taking calls ourselves? Waiting in hope of situation to improve is better than walking towards our home states. It may take 10 to 15 days to reach at homes but considering circumstances, we have decided to go ahead.
Mainly from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, unable to pay rents, these workers had no choice except to vacate with a little money left in their hands to survive. "We labourers are paid on a daily basis. With no work it was not possible for me to pay next month's rent for my house in JJ cluster at Rangpuri. The only option was to leave for home," said Dinesh, a native of Ghazipur.
"We are a family of six people including children. The day lockdown was announced we all packed our luggage and left for the bus stand but when we reached here, bus services were suspended, leaving us with no other option but to spend our nights here," said Ranjan Kumar, who used to work as a labourer in Chandani Chowk area.
"Though we face issue while staying at bus stands and railways stations as police forces us go, where will we find shelter? The shelters homes are already full and we don't have the money to afford a house. We only go to shelter homes for food. All we are worried about is our families to whom we used to send money and are not been able to now," rued another labourer.
Meanwhile, local police along with the help of NGOs have initiated measures for distribution of food and water.
35-year-old Naresh owns a cycle repairing shop in Dwarka Sector-3 and lives in a rented room along with his family. The lockdown has left him without a regular income. "I understand the decision of lockdown. I mean everyone has to adhere with it but in this situation all our work is done," he told.
Naresh said that he has a little money left from the work, which is bound to get over in a few weeks. "I don't know for how long will this shutdown go on, and with limited money we don't know what will happen," he added.
Ram Kumar, a daily wage labourer applauded the decision by the government. "Our life is more important and I support the decision. Although harsh, it was necessary. But this has left us without work or money," he said.
The families in the area have said they are not getting any ration or cooked food. "We haven't been contacted with anyone. Nor do we have any Jan Dhan account," said Naresh.
In the nearby jhuggi area, where people are being provided with food, Naresh's and many others families are trying to fend for themselves. "All families in the area are daily wagers. Many of them are rickshaw drivers. How are they supposed to survive now?" he added.
However, no one from the area has tried to leave the city as of now. Even though both state and central governments have started schemes to help these labourers, many due to lack of knowledge, are not able to receive proper material.
