Cash transfer to poor & labourers can stop exodus

How can tricity authorities mitigate migrants’ woes?

Resolve migrants’ issues on priority

The worst affected social group during the current lockdown are the labourers, particularly migrants, who left their homes for odd jobs at various places, both urban and rural in industries, services, construction and even in agriculture. Migrants were caught unaware when the lockdown was announced. These are the people, who will play a key role in national reconstruction. Attending to them at this hour is the need of the hour. Can government provide large-scale unemployment allowance for sustaining them through the crisis until they are gainfully employed again?

Sanjay Chopra, Mohali

No salary during lockdown

During the lockdown sales and marketing person in the private sector did not receive salary from February 20 onwards. Nothing is happening as per the government instructions. My colleague factory workers and others have a painful experience in this regard.

Dinesh Kumar Sadera, Chandigarh

Give income security to ‘mazdoor’

The biggest challenge for the revival of our beleaguered economy will be paucity of migrant labourers. The country has been put into a vicious circle of the lockdown with no wages for labourers forcing them to go back home. We should have a large fiscal stimulus not ‘jumlas’ rolled out for the industry. If state provides health, social and economic security there is no need for labourers to move out.

Rajiv Boolchand Jain, Zirakpur

Ease lockdown to provide livelihood

The plight of migrant labourers is heart wrenching. The way our Administration is handling the situation is deplorable. The treatment given to them is not only sad, but inhuman too. All that our Administration can do is to give them food and shelter at the ISBT, Sector 43, and the railway station instead of sending them back to their accommodations. Priority must be given to women and children. Easing the lockdown will provide them livelihood.

Sehaj Kaur, Chandigarh

It is a matter of trust

The authorities concerned have to take such steps such as safeguarding their interests so that migrants have faith in it. They should be shown visuals of those, who suffered harshly while on their way back to their home states. They should know that industry is opening up. Meanwhile, these migrants should be relocated to suitable locations with all essentials.

Anil Nanda, Patiala

Rebuild labourers’ confidence

A big chunk of migrants has already left the city. This was facilitated by political parties and the government. It was done to score some brownie points. Hapless migrants were not given cash and food. The need of the hour was to counsel them. The UT Administration and all political parties must use their resources to prevail upon leftover labourers to rebuild their shattered confidence.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

Set up sheds near rly station, bus stand

In the absence of both food and shelter, migrant workers are forced to fend themselves in streets. Arranging temporary sheds near areas like bus stands and railway stations can bring some respite for them. Migrants, who take shelter, must be educated about social distancing. They should be provided three meals per day and clean water. Temporary toilets can be used in this situation.

Anmol Kaur Mongia, Mohali

Arrange convenient, safe evacuation

Migrants too feel home sick and want to leave for their native places. Hopefully, in the wake of relaxation a few of them, who have been living with their families may postpone return to their home states. Doubtlessly, migrant workers are indispensable for us. Therefore, they should not be stopped against their will. Rather, the Administration should arrange for their safe and convenient evacuation.

Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali

More trains for migrants

The BJP government is making fool of people. Monetary relief announced in the name of migrants or other sufferers is eyewash. All money is pocketed by ministers and their ‘chamchas’. Special trains have been announced, but migrants are being asked to pay fare. The tricity authorities should arrange free trains for migrants with Rs 1,000 cash per head do that they can reach their destinations comfortably.

RK Kapoor, Chandigarh

Make registration process easy

Migrant works built Chandigarh brick by brick. They have been hit hard by the pandemic. Fear of death, no food, no money in hand and their near and dears finding difficult to sustain life have forced them to go back to their native places. The tricity administration must make registration of migrants easy and pool busses to take them to their destinations. Capt Amar Jeet Kumar (retd), Mohali

Lot more can be done

Migrants return to their native places has become a major issue. The Administration should start more buses and trains to ferry migrants to their places of destinations without charging fare. They should be provided good food on the way. We owe much to migrants and treat them well so that they can return after the lockdown ends.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Share bread with the poor

The tricity authorities should do their bit to look after problems of poor migrants. The Administration should arrange proper transportation and meals for those migrants, who want to leave for their native places. Those who are interested in staying back in the tricity should be looked after well. They should not feel neglected. Moreover, tricity residents should share their bread with the poor. Migrants are the backbone of country.

MR Bhateja, Nayagaon

Persuade them to stay back

The labour class is the worst sufferer due to the curfew/lockdown. Labourers are migrating to their native states due to non-availability of food and work. In the present scenario, labourers need sympathy. Employers know more about problems of their employees. So, they can encourage labourers to rethink about their decision of going back to their home states. Even if they want to return, then particular state governments should provide transportation by road or rail. Remember, labourers are also humans.

Bir Devinder Singh Bedi, Chandigarh

Constitute migrants’ welfare commission

Despite several trips of ‘shramik express’ trains, migrants are venturing out on long journeys and that too on foot. Migrants and work are inseparable. With picking up of commercial and industrial activities due to relaxation in restrictions, demand for additional workforce will tempt migrants to return. The Union Government can constitute migrants welfare commission to regulate their mobility and deployment vis-a-vis dignity, distress and exploitation.

Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula

Give free train tickets

Unsure of finding work, food or shelter, hundreds of migrant workers across the country began their journey home on foot. The administration in the tricity should cooperate and provide essential services to migrant labourers and the homeless poor, who are on roads. They don’t’ have money to buy bus or train tickets. Give free tickets only to them so they can back to their home states.

Vijay Malia, Chandigarh

Provide work to the needy

Migrants are upset as they are suffering due to the coronavirus. The tricity authorities should solve problems of migrants and poor in time. A good A Jack makes a good Jill. Food and medicine should be provided to them. The authorities should arrange buses and trains for their travel if they want to go to native places. There should be proper arrangement of food and drinking water during their journey. The authorities should provide work to them if they want to stay in the tricity. No one should die without food.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

Many have lost hope

We hear every day that number of accidents and deaths of migrants travelling home by foot are increasing. The first step to stop it is to make migrants believe that they will reach their home soon. Most of them have lost hope of reaching home by trains and buses. So, they started travelling by foot. Now, it’s time for the government to become stricter and punish those travelling by foot.

Priyam Aggarwal, Chandigarh

Increase frequency of trains, buses

As we daily read about deaths of migrants, the most important step the government should take is to increase the frequency of trains to various states. This will ensure that there are no more accidents involving people travelling on foot. Also, migrants will reach their homes safely.

Isha Aggarwal, Chandigarh

Can this be Partition revisited?

So it appeared on seeing hapless migrants trudging on highways in thousands. They are never anyone’s baby. Year after year, they descended on us and then disappear on their own. This is time of calamity. All migrants desperately want to rush back home to be with their families. There wasn’t time enough to make some money at the workplace or gather provisions for the flight homewards. Their plight failed to elicit any emergency response, which could have mitigated their hardship.

Jai Singh, Chandigarh

Citizens given raw deal

It is heart-breaking that our own citizens have been given such a raw deal despite the vociferous sloganeering that India is a welfare state. Labourers should be provided all wherewithal. The PM-Cares Fund must put to good use by giving dignified compensation to the deprived and the dejected. Arrangements should be made to transport migrants to their home states by trains and buses along with adequate food and drinking water.

Dr SS Bhatti, Chandigarh

It is never too late to be mindful

Covid-19 crisis has rendered migrants orphans. The government’s apathetic attitude has compounded their problems. When migrants had nothing to fall back on, they started spilling into streets. They started their arduous journey to their home towns on foot in the absence of transportation. This caught the authorities off guard. Had they let theirs hearth burning, things would not have reached to such a pass. Address problems of vulnerable section of society diligently and swiftly.

Veena Mahajan, Chandigarh

Poverty has aggravated sufferings of poor

Emotionally and financially drained by the lockdown crisis it is shameful that migrants are trudging on foot back to their native states. It is true that poverty has compounded Indians suffering. Perhaps it is lack of coordination between states and Centre. Trust deficit among the poor is quite visible. The government and civilised people should come together to mitigate migrants woes.

Vidya Sagar Garg, Panchkula

Open industrial hubs in states

Covid-19 and the resultant lockdown have played havoc with the lives of migrant labourers. Most daily wage earners have no food and shelter. They want to go back home. Due to lack of transport and trains, migrants are rushing back to native states on foot, cycles and trucks. There is utter chaos everywhere. Some states have revived the industry to absorb labourers. The states should open industrial hubs to employ them once the lockdown is over.

Harish Kapur, Chandigarh

Treat daily wage earners with dignity

The government has failed on the migrant labourers front. Else, why should they be walking on roads in this hot weather to reach homes? It’s sad for humanity. They live on daily wages, which they have lost since March 25. The government should arrange for their safe travel back to their home. The authorities should also give atleast Rs 2,000 per migrant so that they can purchase their daily need items. At least Rs 5,000 should be provided to those, who wish to stay back.

Col RD Singh (retd), Ambala Cantt

Convince them not to leave

Migrants make important contributions to the tricity economy. They should not be left to their fate. Migrants need food to survive and some monetary aid to come out of the crisis. The tricity Administration should strengthen PDS system, provide subsidised or free food grains and convince migrants not to leave. The MC should start re-carpeting of city roads as it will give employment to migrants.

Col Balbir Singh mathauda (retd), Chandigarh

Centre, state govts must act responsibly

The deadly Covid-19 has shattered many lives and economy. Apprehending worst situation the exodus of laid off migrants has started. This happened as the government couldn’t gauge pathetic and alarming situation while ordering the lockdown without warming. As of now, much is yet to be done. The Centre and state governments must rise above petty politics and act responsibly through well-coordinated actions and provide adequate facilities for safe repatriation of migrants back to their native states.

SS Arora, Mohali

Generate employment to stop exodus

The Administration should take strict action against those migrants, who violate directions and endanger others’ lives. ‘Shramik’ trains are running, but migrants should pay for its tickets to prevent misuse of free service. State governments should generate employment for local people under MNREGA. Migration of labourers creates many problems like mushrooming of illegal colonies and crime.

Dr Shailja Beniwal, Chandigarh

QUESTION

Are we getting out of the lockdown too soon? Or should we join the collective fight against the pandemic and return to normalcy with all personal/social precautions in place so as to help revive the economy?

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