New Delhi: Amid the chaos, fear and uncertainty spreading across Delhi because of the COVID-19 outbreak, a distressing narrative emerged, when thousands of migrant workers, left without jobs, shelter and food after the government declared a 21 day nationwide lockdown.
The labourers said their employers had told them that factories would be shut down. “I worked at an iron factory, but there is no work left anymore. Which means no work-no money, so we are heading towards home,” told a worker even as Anand Vihar bus terminal officials held a meeting with authorities of the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand bus systems to prevent the sort of chaos seen after the lockdown last year.
However, the arrangements were ensured at the bus terminal and railway station at Anand Vihar for orderly movements of travellers, which were overseen by Delhi Police and Civil Defence Volunteers.
Hundreds of migrants, some of whom could not get a bus or train earlier when a week-long lockdown came into effect in Delhi, gathered at Anand Vihar to try again on Thursday.
Though the terminal was lined with government buses, many seats were full because passengers booked tickets online. In private AC buses, passengers claimed conductors were charging as much as Rs 1,500-Rs 2,000 for a seat.
A migrant worker along with his two friends were also very keen to find a bus to take them home to Sitapur in Lucknow. “I worked at an iron factory in Brijwasan, but the management told us that the unit was being closed due to the lockdown,” said Kumar. “Last year, I remember walking for kilometres to get a ride back home. This time I don’t want to waste time, but return at this point only, ” said Sunil.
On Tuesday in an order the Delhi government has announced Rs 5,000 relief for registered construction workers. The relief is part of a slew of steps that will be taken to help migrant workers and daily wagers, many of whom are leaving the city fearing loss of livelihood, after the government announced a six-day lockdown to arrest the spread of Covid cases in Delhi.
There are a total of 1,71,861 registered workers but registration will be kept open and newly registered workers will be covered too, stated the order.
The order states that a committee of officers is to be constituted to ensure the welfare of daily wagers and migrant workers. The committee is tasked with ensuring that food, water, shelter, clothing and medication are made available to workers. Those workers at construction sites are to be provided with food, shelter and other medications, too.
“For the purpose of providing food, the contractors providing mid-day meals to school children in government and MCD schools, should be utilised,” stated the order.
The funds from Delhi Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board (DBCWWB) will be utilised for the same. It further stated, “Finance Department, GNCTD shall arrange adequate funds, if required, in addition to the funds available with the Delhi Building And Other Construction Workers Welfare Board for ensuring Overall welfare of and for providing the aforesaid basic amenities and other necessities to the migrant workers, daily wagers, construction workers in compliance with the directions of the Hon’ble Delhi High Court.”
To facilitate the movement of people like them and to ensure their journeys are smooth, a task force was constituted by Delhi government on Wednesday. As per the order, special commissioner of transport, is the nodal officer tasked with making all necessary arrangements while maintaining close contacts with the transport authorities of the neighbouring states, particularly of UP and Uttarakhand.
The order said, “The task force will render necessary assistance to any person wishing to undertake interstate travel and for that purpose adequate number of help desks will also be set up at ISBT. Enforcement teams will be in place wherever required.”
The lockdown last year and the subsequent closure of factories, construction work and informal sector units had forced many migrants rendered jobless to swarm the city’s bus terminals and railway stations. There naturally was a huge danger of the coronavirus spreading in the confusion, not to diminish the human tragedy of thousands of people, hungry and desperate, cramming into whatever transport was available — or even walking thousands of kilometres to reach home.
Even to prevent another mass exodus like last year, Delhi Police Commissioner S N Shrivastava has directed all 15 DCPs and SHOs to stop movement of migrants and drop them back home if they are found outside during the lockdown without authorisation.
The direction came after hundreds of migrant workers gathered at the Anand Vihar Bus Terminal to board buses and head to their states.
