Dehradun: COVID-19 outbreak in India and the subsequent lockdown has pushed migrant workers to the brink of existential crisis, as their revenues dried up and are stuck miles away from their families without food, water or accommodation.
Following this, several states witnessed a mass exodus of workers who were willing to walk on foot to reach their native villages.
Once the industries and other unorganised jobs took a hit following the virus spread, many workers have returned to their villages in Uttarakhand with state administration keeping close tabs on all incomings.
The district administration in Chamoli has kept a strict surveillance on those who have returned to their villages. The district collector gets a daily report from the revenue officials on the medical condition of the returnees.
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For the daily wage earners who have returned to Tharali tehsil, the district administration distributing 150 food packets daily. The social activists and various political outfits too have been doing their bit to ensure that no one goes to sleep without a meal.
In Narayan Bagad block, as many as 518 people had returned till March 30. Among them seven were from foreign countries, including one from China and four others from Nepal.
In Tharali and Deval blocks, 536 people have returned till March 29. Among these are 14 from China, two from Dubai, two from Kuwait and one from Nepal. In Deval block one person from China and two from Dubai have returned to their native villages.
In all these three blocks, a total of 33 people have returned from abroad. If the local administration is to be believed, each of them are following home quarantine and are keeping well.
According to deputy collector of Tharali Kishan Singh Negi, strict quarantine is being followed by all those who have come from outside and legal action would be taken against anyone found to be violating the quarantine rules.
