Scared of lockdown, workers start returning to their places in Bihar

A spike in the cases of novel coronavirus disease has again wreaked havoc across the country and migrant workers are bearing the brunt this year too. A large number of migrant workers are returning to their native places from different states including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi and other places.

Patna: In view of a sudden increase in the cases of coronavirus infection, people do not want to face the hardships again they did during the lockdown last year. That is why the migrant labourers have started returning home as they are scared of possible lockdown to contain the spread of corona in the country. In view of this, the East Central Railway has started operating special trains.

Migrant workers are returning from Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat

The second wave of coronavirus in the country has begun scaring the people. The cases of corona are also increasing rapidly in Bihar. In such a situation, an atmosphere of fear has been created among the people regarding the conditions arising out of the spread of coronavirus. However, to curb the growing case of corona, many states have imposed night curfew. The irony of Bihar is that labourers go to another state and work for their livelihood, and in such a situation when the second wave of the deadly virus has almost gripped the country, the state government has also issued certain guidelines. For this reason, the workers have started fearing that these guidelines might be a precursor of the lockdown, which they do not want to face while being away from home. For this reason, labourers have started returning home once again.

LABOURERS WERE RETURNING TO WORKS

Scores of workers had been rendered jobless in the wake of the lockdown last year. The biggest problem was giving employment to them as soon as the lockdown was over. To end this, labourers and other small workers of Bihar and other states went to many other places in search of jobs so that they can earn their livelihoods. But now, after a year, the coronavirus has again started haunting the people. People still remember those horrifying old days of lockdown. Due to this, labourers have started returning from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Surat and other places in Punjab and Haryana. Most workers are returning from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and different places of Punjab.

“In Surat, the company in which I was working, is on the verge of closure. So I am returning to my home. I used to work in a saree weaving company in Surat. But again the situation is getting worse. That is why I have already come to my house. I went back to work after the lockdown was lifted. The work was not available in the village. I am not able to do the work of the government under MGNREGA. So I went back to Surat. Now I am forced to return home" said a migrant labourer from Patna.

“When we left Delhi at night, night curfew was announced. I used to do welding work in Delhi. But with the announcement of the night curfew, I left the national capital. If you sit at home, the government will have to provide employment, food and other things to the people. But the problems of last year’s lockdown cannot be relieved. That is why I have just returned", said another migrant labourer.

“As the cases of corona are increasing rapidly, there is a possibility of re-imposing lockdown again as was done last year. I am returning to my home. I will stay at home. Some employment will be provided in the village itself. But I have come home before the situation of lockdown crops up. We can’t relive those days of hardships" said a migrant labourer who has just returned from Delhi to Bihar.

“Due to huge crowds in trains, additional special trains are also being operated. There are a total of 16 trains running from many stations in Maharashtra and Pune and reaching many destinations in Bihar. All trains are being continuously monitored. But from 7 April to 13 April, all trains are full. Therefore, keeping in mind the rush of passengers, the East Central Railway has decided to operate three additional trains. The special train will reach Bihar from Mumbai and Pune after three days, that is, on 10 April. Thermal scanning of passengers coming from other states is being done from Patna Junction. In the thermal scanning, if a passenger’s temperature is found to be on the higher side, his corona test is conducted", said Rajesh Kumar, CPRO of East Central Railways.

The ECR has also started operating special trains in view of the large number of workers who are returning in big numbers. A large number of labourers have started returning. In order to ensure that they do not face any problem, the state government will also have to be very cautious. A large number of migrant labourers will reach Bihar. For that, the government will have to be fully geared up to meet any challenges. Even in Bihar, the cases of corona are increasing every day. After the return of migrant labourers, the number of corona infected people may increase.

It is worth mentioning that many special trains have been run for labourers. Pune-Danapur 01401 Pune Special train will run on 9th April and will reach Danapur station, Patna on 10th April. Mumbai Special Train 01091 Superfast Special train, originating from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, will depart from Mumbai on 12th April and reach Patna Junction the next day, that is, 13th April. The stoppage of this train will be at Bhusaval, Khandwa, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Junction, Buxar, Ara, Patliputra, Hajipur, Muzaffarpur and Samastipur. Needless to say that migrant labourers have started returning to their homes in Bihar, fearing lockdown in view of the sudden surge in corona cases.