New Delhi: It has been over a month since India came under nationwide lockdown, in response to coronavirus pandemic, with the migrant labourers and daily wagers remaining worst hit, with no savings to fall back on.
At the time, when Ministry of Home Affairs has finally allowed the movement of migrant workers to their home states by buses or special trains, these people are being forced to pay for their tickets as per the guidelines issued by Ministry of Railways.
Read: Railways to charge states for ferrying migrant workers during lockdown
While a different set of rules were being witnessed for the Indians stranded abroad got evacuated from the COVID-19 hit countries. Unlike migrant workers who, in some cases, even had to pay an extra fare for their journeys back home, the Indian citizens stranded abroad were flown back in special evacuation flights operated by Air India without paying any price and the cost of their journey was taken up by the Government.
As per the guidelines issued by Ministry of Railways, it has been clearly stated that the local state government authorities will handover tickets to the passengers cleared by them and collect the ticket fare which will further be given to Indian Railways.
On the other hand, for all the special flights, the protocols mentioned that the passengers weren't charged the commercial fare as Air India billed it to the Ministry of External Affairs.
This move of Indian Railways to get migrant labourers to pay their way back home and the states to collect that payment is also becoming a new flashpoint between the government and opposition.
Read: Lockdown deaths: Of those who never reached home
Reacting over the reports that migrant labourers have paid ₹50 extra per passenger travelling in the special trains, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren tweeted, "It is very sad. Center should rethink over this decision. Asking migrant labourers to pay extra for their tickets during this period of crisis, is totally injustice to them."
Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, "It is highly shameful that BJP government is charging fare to migrant labourers. It has been cleared today that this government only waives loans of capitalists, supports rich businessmen and works against the poor."
Congress leader Ahmed Patel slammed Center in a tweet, over the Central Vista Project, saying, "If Government of India can spend Rs 20000 crores to construct a new Parliament building, why is it collecting money from poor migrants, who need to go back home? Is this how you will fund a new Parliament?"
Read: UP: Migrants not allowed to cross Jalaun border after being halted at Jhansi for 12 hrs
The fare of these Special trains includes the cost of a sleeper class ticket, along with superfast charges of Rs 30 and Rs 20 for meals and water per passenger. However, the Railway Ministry earlier announced that the state governments will bear the cost of operation of "Shramik Special trains".
With no income in the hands, while many have walked kilometres to reach home, several incidents of migrant labourers hiding in trucks, trains or even in the belly of a concrete mixer, were also reported in the past few days.
Meanwhile, states are arranging ways for the movement of these people, a kind of unrest can still be seen in the number of people while worrying about their work and income, and hoping to get back to home as soon as possible.
