CONTINUATION OF LOCK DOWN MUST : CONSIDER TEMPORARY RAILSERVICES TOWARDS SPECIFIC DESTINATIONS :
This class of people who have come for their livelihood leaving behind their homes in the villages are in a state of constant Fear ,Insecurity and now without earnings due to loss of work . Though the Governments the State or the Centre have no stakes , as they are Contract workers . Their free movement within the Union of India has been well utilized by the Contractors .
Their Insecurity was expressed in 2 stages :
Within days of first shutdown in March , we saw the plight of jobless Migrant Workers wanting to head home from Delhi, Chandigarh , Navi Mumbai, Lucknow. Some Bus services were arranged , but without any clue about the numbers resulting in horde of people with women and children jostling for a place . There the social distancing went for a six several times , waiting , jostling and getting herded .
Then came the extension of the shutdown now . After going through 21 days ordeal of getting Ration, Food and other facilities . This time in Mumbai and Surat particularly after the sudden spike in the Infected cases in Maharashtra and Gujarat would have caused fear and anxiety . After 3 weeks they are fed up of waiting in long Q’s and doled food. THE INFANTS AND CHILDREN WERE DEPRIVED OF THEIR ESSENTIAL FOOD . The Hunger & Need would have compelled them to stand for long times and wait with out realizing the “ SOCIAL DISTANCING “ . From the Pictures we did see that the authorities were either helpless or Oblivious to the “ SOCIAL DISTANCING “ . We had seen many without facial Masks also. Some of the Stores and Restaurants had foreseen the extension and packed the Migrant Workers during March itself.
SO RAILWAYS CAN OPERATE SPECIAL TRAINS FOR THIS CLASS OF WORKERS ALSO AS THE RAILWAYS IS OPERATING TO MOVE ESSENTIALS AND ARMED PERSONNEL . BUT ALL OF THEM SHOULD BE PROVIDED FAIRLY COMFORTABLE TRAVEL ACCOMMODATION WITH DISTANCE REGULATIONS AND FOOD. TO RESTRICT THEIR ROAD TRAVEL TO THE MINIMAL RAILWAYS SHOULD DROP THEM CLOSEST TO THEIR DESTINATIONS .
THEY COULD BE QUARANTINTINED IN THEIR HOME STATE ON ARRIVAL AS ALL STATES IN INDIA ARE COMPETANT TO HANDLE THE SITUATION .
Now , Some places like Mumbai and Delhi there has been relaxation for the Migrant workers to work with some restrictions and facilities in big Construction Projects. That is welcome , hope other states will also be in a position to follow suite . more