Despite jobs, migrants desperate to go home

Strap: Homesick labourers concerned about health and future of their families

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, June 1

Even though Kanhaiya Kumar (35), a migrant labourer, has returned to work, he still booked a train ticket to go back home. Hailing from Tikamgarh in Madhya Pradesh, Kumar said he was concerned about the health and future of his family members.

He said: “I don’t feel like working. We are a group of 25 people. Everybody is scared that they will die here if they don’t choose to return home. Even during work, we just think about going home.”

Rupesh Kumar, who works in a machine tools factory in Industrial Area, Phase 1, said: “We have been told to get back to work. I have decided that I will return home after my pending salary is paid. I am not asking for any sort of credit. It’s the money that I have earned.”

“Even our family members are worried for us. My wife calls me innumerable times in a day. She just wants us to come back home. Every time she asks why I haven’t returned like others in our village,” he added.

Lal Chand, a labourer at a construction site in Sector 14, said, “We have filled the migrant travel form. We are just waiting for a call for medical screening. We just want to be with our families in these tough times,” Chand said desperately.

According to Gaurav Sharma, Joint Director, District Industries Centre, as per a rough estimate around 35,000 to 40,000 unskilled workers were engaged in 1,500 small, medium and large industries in Panchkula.

“When the lockdown was imposed industries were working in full swing. Now, as relaxations are accorded, the industry is reeling under low demand and shortage of raw materials. As a result of cash flow challenges, they had payment issues. Things will take up to two months to get streamlined,” he said.

*Telling numbers*

Of nearly 1,500 industrial units, 1,250 have taken approval for regular operations. According to official figures, around 32,750 labourers work in these units.

However, the ground reality is somewhat different. Officials concerned, however, said industries are operating at 55 to 60 per cent capacity. Around 36,000 migrants, mostly from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have registered with the administration to move out of the district.

Sushil Kumar, City Magistrate, Panchkula, said they can’t say how many have left the district in buses or trains arranged by the administration.

“We are not in a position to make a rough calculation. Officials are working on it. It will take 2-3 days for the exact figures to come out,” he said.

Notably, major exportable items in Panchkula are auto parts, PCB, medicines, connectors, decorative and industrial laminates, machine tools, engineering goods, leather shoes, chemicals, tractors etc.

250 buses left

According to officials, over 250 buses and two trains have left Panchkula with migrants. Not more than 30 migrants can travel in one bus. While trains have the capacity to carry around 1,300.

Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Kumar Ahuja, however, said they can’t give the exact figure of migrants moved out of city in buses and trains arranged by the administration. He said the officials were in constant touch with those who have registered to move out of the city.