Sudden Lockdown Caused Problems For Migrants
Sudden Lockdown Caused Problems For Migrants
Though India was aware of the Covid-19 virus that was killing people in masses, it was not very clear about when it would strike our nation. It happened to strike suddenly, and even more sudden was the preventive measures to curb its rapid spread. A lockdown was the best form of social distancing advised by the global health police, the World Health Organization. It seemed everyone was struck by lightning, especially the migrant workers and the daily wagers.
There were hundreds of these people from other states, who had come here on account of earning a living for their families and themselves. They did not know where to go, because the conveyances had all been put under lockdown too. The railways stopped functioning and no cars, buses, or even trucks were available for them to go back to their homes. They were stranded homeless.
This was only the beginning of the miserable days that were approaching them. Be it the daily labourers or the migrant workers; their funds were all limited. At least the migrant workers had some saved up finances; the plight of the daily wagers was worse. They could only get money the day they worked, and because all kinds of works had stopped, their income also came to a halt. The only money they had at hand was all that they had, and that too got exhausted soon.
The most tragic thing began emerging a few days later when they had no place to stay. People were not allowing them to remain even as a tenant; they had no option left but to reside on the roads. The most heart-rending scenario was that some of them were with their families. The little children were deprived of food, water and shelter. Their only way of getting food and water were the relief workers who were providing eatables for these people at different points on the roads.
The government made a few arrangements for these individuals to stay, but there were so many of them that there was not enough space for everyone. The media covered stories of entire families living on the roadsides. And when they could think of nothing else, they began walking back to their respective states. On the news channels it was a sorry sight to watch migrant workers with little children on their shoulders and arms, walking miles after miles, back to their homes. Many of these people fell ill while walking back to their home state. There were also reports of deaths of these migrant workers.
One man was said to have committed suicide because
he could not gather enough money to buy food for his family. It was so sad to see that after his death, the family was given money to sustain themselves. Had the government made provisions for their stay and food, these lateral damages could have been avoided. To make things worse, the police were reported to have harassed those who were walking on highways. The government and its officials seemed to have failed to comprehend the condition of these poor people.
More and more stories of deaths were being aired on the television channels; one such report showed how a train ran down 16 migrants who were heading towards their hometown. It seemed these labourers were only bothered about reaching back home even if they had to risk their lives. The plight of these people was nothing better than the stray dogs on the streets; in fact, the dogs perhaps had a better life. They at least got to eat from the thrown away food. These workers could not do that. They kept walking from one state to the other without food. Such was their deprived state that people in certain places would not let them drink water from the common taps also, fearing that they might be carriers of the virus.
The grief of the migrant workers was heightened when the government was arranging flights to bring back the Indians stranded in other countries, but was turning a deaf ear to the misery of its own people within the country. Some print media even recorded this as “perhaps the greatest human tragedy of our times”. The sight of children and pregnant women walking on the roads while starving was very disheartening.
However, the government gradually made arrangements for the migrant workers and labourers to help them to reach their homes. Several individuals, including celebrities, came forward, out of their own accord, to help these afflicted people. Trains, buses and trucks were organised to take these people back to their respective states. The tears of joy in their eyes said it all; they were finally relieved to get back to their homes. Despite having encountered ignorance from the authorities, these humble people did not forget to thank and bless all those who helped in their rescue. They might have settled down in their homes, but the scars of this pandemic situation are forever going to haunt their memories.
© Arked
Though India was aware of the Covid-19 virus that was killing people in masses, it was not very clear about when it would strike our nation. It happened to strike suddenly, and even more sudden was the preventive measures to curb its rapid spread. A lockdown was the best form of social distancing advised by the global health police, the World Health Organization. It seemed everyone was struck by lightning, especially the migrant workers and the daily wagers.
There were hundreds of these people from other states, who had come here on account of earning a living for their families and themselves. They did not know where to go, because the conveyances had all been put under lockdown too. The railways stopped functioning and no cars, buses, or even trucks were available for them to go back to their homes. They were stranded homeless.
This was only the beginning of the miserable days that were approaching them. Be it the daily labourers or the migrant workers; their funds were all limited. At least the migrant workers had some saved up finances; the plight of the daily wagers was worse. They could only get money the day they worked, and because all kinds of works had stopped, their income also came to a halt. The only money they had at hand was all that they had, and that too got exhausted soon.
The most tragic thing began emerging a few days later when they had no place to stay. People were not allowing them to remain even as a tenant; they had no option left but to reside on the roads. The most heart-rending scenario was that some of them were with their families. The little children were deprived of food, water and shelter. Their only way of getting food and water were the relief workers who were providing eatables for these people at different points on the roads.
The government made a few arrangements for these individuals to stay, but there were so many of them that there was not enough space for everyone. The media covered stories of entire families living on the roadsides. And when they could think of nothing else, they began walking back to their respective states. On the news channels it was a sorry sight to watch migrant workers with little children on their shoulders and arms, walking miles after miles, back to their homes. Many of these people fell ill while walking back to their home state. There were also reports of deaths of these migrant workers.
One man was said to have committed suicide because
he could not gather enough money to buy food for his family. It was so sad to see that after his death, the family was given money to sustain themselves. Had the government made provisions for their stay and food, these lateral damages could have been avoided. To make things worse, the police were reported to have harassed those who were walking on highways. The government and its officials seemed to have failed to comprehend the condition of these poor people.
More and more stories of deaths were being aired on the television channels; one such report showed how a train ran down 16 migrants who were heading towards their hometown. It seemed these labourers were only bothered about reaching back home even if they had to risk their lives. The plight of these people was nothing better than the stray dogs on the streets; in fact, the dogs perhaps had a better life. They at least got to eat from the thrown away food. These workers could not do that. They kept walking from one state to the other without food. Such was their deprived state that people in certain places would not let them drink water from the common taps also, fearing that they might be carriers of the virus.
The grief of the migrant workers was heightened when the government was arranging flights to bring back the Indians stranded in other countries, but was turning a deaf ear to the misery of its own people within the country. Some print media even recorded this as “perhaps the greatest human tragedy of our times”. The sight of children and pregnant women walking on the roads while starving was very disheartening.
However, the government gradually made arrangements for the migrant workers and labourers to help them to reach their homes. Several individuals, including celebrities, came forward, out of their own accord, to help these afflicted people. Trains, buses and trucks were organised to take these people back to their respective states. The tears of joy in their eyes said it all; they were finally relieved to get back to their homes. Despite having encountered ignorance from the authorities, these humble people did not forget to thank and bless all those who helped in their rescue. They might have settled down in their homes, but the scars of this pandemic situation are forever going to haunt their memories.
© Arked