Migrant worker’s story: Rs.10 in pocket – 1000kms journey

Migrant workers saw the most troublesome days of their lives during the lock down. The desire to reach their families amidst no transportation facilities made migrant workers situation too miserable.

A story of a migrant worker who traveled 1000kms to his hometown with Rs.10 in the pocket brought tears in the eyes. After walking for 200kms, migrant worker Om Prakash took a tractor for 400kms followed by walk to his hometown. At the end of 600kms, he was left with Rs.10 in the pocket and zero clue on how to survive till his home.

Most of the migrant workers don’t have GPS to know whether their direction is right or not. Most of the hard earned money was spent in the travel and there is no money left for food and water. Om Prakash revealed that there are thousands of such migrant workers in the same situation, as far as he observed.

Central Government provided free flights to several NRIs from various nations. Most of them can afford to buy flight tickets. The Government could have collected nominal fare from those passengers and used that money to send the migrant workers safely to their hometowns. Migrant workers are not as rich as NRIs and they live on daily wages. After spending all their saved money on the travel, it would be tough for them and their family to survive during this lock down phase.

Indian Government’s effort to control Covid-19 is appreciable but they should have anticipated this sort of situation during lock down and should have been ready with the right arrangements without hassle.